HC dismisses as infructuous plea claiming illegal detention of Amritpal Singh

The Punjab Police arrested Amritpal from Moga’s Rode — the native village of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale — early on Sunday, ending a 36-day long manhunt against the radical preacher. He has been booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and sent to the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam.

As the matter came up for hearing before a Bench of Justice N S Shekhawat, Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi submitted there was no clarity whether Amritpal had surrendered or was arrested. Bedi submitted that there is an apprehension among people that something is wrong and sought a separate inquiry into the matter to clear the ambiguity.

The Bench, however, said it does not matter whether Amritpal had surrendered or was arrested. It has been made clear by the Punjab Advocate General that Amritpal has been arrested, the Bench said while dismissing the habeas corpus plea against his illegal detention.

Meanwhile, the bench also adjourned for May 1 a bunch of pleas filed by relatives of Amritpal’s associates — Daljit Singh Kalsi, Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh Fauji, Bhagwant Singh Pardhanmantri Bajeke and Basant Singh, all of whom have been detained under the stringent NSA and lodged in Dibrugarh jail.

“It is, however, made clear that no further adjournment shall be granted,” the bench said.

The relatives have sought quashing of detention orders.

Simranjit Singh, the counsel for Kalsi’s wife Narinder Kaur, submitted that they want to file an amended petition. He said that the petitioner would now challenge the grounds of detention orders.

In the previous hearing in the matter, the Punjab government had informed the high court that Kalsi was supporting Amritpal.