This is an archive article published on June 1, 2024
Punjab and Haryana HC transfers Behbal Kalan firing case to Chandigarh
A bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil passed the order on a petition by Moga’s then SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma through counsel Sangram Singh Saron, Shubreet Kaur and MB Rajwade.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday transferred the trial in the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case from Faridkot to Chandigarh. The case was registered at the Bajakhana police station in Faridkot district on October 21, 2015, a week after two protesters were killed in alleged police firing at Behbal Kalan in the aftermath of the sacrilege incidents. The victims were among a group of people protesting against the incidents of sacrilege earlier that year.
A bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil passed the order on a petition by Moga’s then SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma through counsel Sangram Singh Saron, Shubreet Kaur and MB Rajwade. The petitioner had contended that congenial atmosphere did not exist at Faridkot to conduct fair and impartial trial.
“It is becoming a frequent phenomenon in our country that court proceedings are being disturbed by rude hoodlums and unruly crowds, jostling, jeering or cheering and disrupting the judicial hearing with menaces, noises and worse. This tendency of toughs and street roughs to violate the serenity of court is obstructive of the course of justice and must surely be stamped out,” said Justice Moudgil.
The Bench said that it is the duty of the court to assure propitious conditions which conduce to comparative tranquility at the trial. “Turbulent conditions putting the accused’s life in danger or creating chaos inside the court hall may jettison public justice. If this vice is peculiar to a particular place and is persistent, the transfer of the case from that place may become necessary,” the bench said.
In the case, after the FIR was registered, a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Ranjit Singh (Retd) in its report dated June 30, 2015 prima facie indicted Sharma (petitioner), the then SSP Moga, Bikramjit Singh, the then SP Fazilka, Inspector Pardeep Singh and sub-inspector Amarjit Singh, the then SHO Bajakhana for dilly-dallying the matter with regard to the incident of firing.
The petitioner was arrested on January 27, 2019 and was granted interim bail on medical grounds. Besides, the petitioner was also nominated as accused in an FIR dated August 7, 2018 by the SIT and was granted bail.
Advocate Saron contended that on each and every date of hearing since presentation of challan in court on April 23, 2019, surcharged atmosphere is created by supporters consisting of radical organizations reached court complex at Faridkot in tractor-trolleys and other modes of transport raising slogans in support of the family of the deceased who are sponsored by vested interest trying to take political/religious mileage.
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It was also urged that there is serious security risk to the life of the petitioner and this risk becomes even graver when the petitioner has to travel from Hoshiarpur to Faridkot at a distance of 250 kms on each and every date of hearing.
The State counsel, however, contended that challan has been filed on April 24, 2019 citing as many as 98 number of witnesses who mostly belong to Behbal Kalan at Faridkot, and as such it will not be possible to take all the 98 witnesses to any other Court for trial for recording the evidence, if the present case is transferred from Faridkot to any other Court which may cause reluctance on the part of these witnesses from attending a far off Court, and would irreparably harm the interests of justice.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
Professional Background
Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases.
Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region.
Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns:
1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts
"12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013.
"‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
"Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification.
2. Investigative & Scams
"CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus.
"Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh.
3. Environment & Public Safety
"Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities.
"Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos.
4. Gangster Culture & Crime
"City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules.
"Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26.
Signature Style
Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
