Gurdas Maan case: Punjab and Haryana HC dismisses plea against trial court order accepting cancellation report

The case pertains to an August 2021 first information report (FIR) where Paramjit Singh Akali, a member of Sikh Youth Power of Punjab, alleged that Maan hurt the religious sentiments of a community while performing in the Urs of Sai Murad Shah Ji at the premises of Dera Baba Murad Shah Ji Trust. Maan was subsequently booked in the case.

The criminal revision plea was filed by Harjinder Singh alias Jinda and others against a February 22, 2024 order passed by the sub-divisional judicial magistrate in Nakodar whereby the protest petition was dismissed and the cancellation report filed by the police after investigation was accepted.

The petitioner had argued that Maan pointed towards Dera Mukhi during his performance whereas in Gurbani the word Satguru is used to refer to one pious God. Referring to Dera Mukhi as Satguru has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community, the petitioner claimed.

It was also argued that the trial court had ignored the fact that Maan had uploaded a video on his Facebook page wherein he explained his act and apologised. The petitioner said that the video was with the trial court, but without going into the material and cogent evidence available before it, the cancellation report was accepted.