Observing that the detention of gangster-turned politician Gurpreet Singh Sekhon under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS appeared to be “illegal” and a violation of fundamental rights, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday issued directions to immediately release him upon furnishing bail bonds.
A bench of Justice Sanjay Vashisth passed the directions on a habeas corpus plea for his release filed by Sekhon’s mother Kulbir Kaur Sekhon. In her plea, Kulbir alleged hat her son was confined and kept in illegal custody by the station house officer (SHO) of the Kulgarhi police station in Ferozepur after being taken into custody late Thursday night.
Her counsel submitted that there was a political rivalry between respondent Mandeep Singh, sarpanch of the village, and the family members of the petitioner. The sarpanch belongs to the ruling party and is using his position and political influence against the petitioner’s family, submitted the counsel.
The counsel for state submitted that Ferozepur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) had passed an order on December 12 that Sekhon had failed to furnish bail bonds, and therefore should be kept in judicial custody until December 18.
Contending this, Kulbir’s counsel — Saurav Bhatia and Kuljinder Singh Billing from the legal cell of Shiromani Akali Dal — submitted that Sekhon was ready to furnish the bail bonds his lawyer Arshdeep Singh Randhawa was waiting outside the court of the SDM but was not allowed to enter. They contended that the action of the SDM was nothing but arbitrary in nature and such an arrest would amount to an illegal confinement, that too, in a bailable offence.
Justice Vashisth directed the Ferozepur deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate to ensure the completion of all bail bond formalities and added that Sekhon be released from the custody forthwith, otherwise it would amount to a violation of the Fundamental Rights, warranting strict action against the wrongdoer.
“The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Ferozepur, is directed to ensure that the exercise of furnishing of bail bonds, at the instance of petitioner’s son Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, is accomplished, by respondent No.5 himself (SDM), or in case, concerned officer is not available, let the said exercise be got done by the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Ferozepur himself, or through the concerned SHO of the Police Station,” said the order.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rural) Karan Sharma said Sekhon and his two accomplices were detained as a “preventive measure”.
Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said, “Sekhon was taken into custody following complaints from rival candidates.”
Kulgarhi SHO Davinder Singh said Sekhon and two associates were detained under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS to prevent any disturbance to law and order during the elections.
Sekhon was detained while he was actively campaigning for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls. Sekhon’s wife Mandeep Kaur, and a relative Kuljit Kaur are contesting the zila parishad polls from the Bajidpur and Firozshah zones, respectively. The campaign of the two candidates was led by Sekhon, with his photos prominently displayed on their posters.
Sekhon’s supporters Friday held a protest outside the Kulgarhi police, blocked the Ferozepur-Ludhiana road, and raised slogans against police and the AAP government while demanding his release.
Hours before he was detained, Sekhon had uploaded a video on social media, anticipating that police might arrest him at the behest of AAP’s Ferozepur Rural MLA Rajnish Dahiya. “Police may arrest me, but you must continue supporting our candidates even if I am not here. You all need to be my voice,” he told his followers.
The SAD indirectly extended support to the two candidates from Sekhon’s family by not fielding any candidates against them. In several block samitis too, the Akali Dal has not put up candidates, indirectly supporting independents backed by Sekhon.
Former SAD MLA Joginder Singh Jindu, who had been been campaigning for Sekhon-supported candidates, termed his detention as the height of “anarchy” , alleging that AAP was “destroying the democratic system in the state by indulging in witch hunting”.
“It is clear now that the local AAP MLA has accepted defeat due to which he has taken this step under frustration”, alleged Jindu, who is also the SAD district president.
His lawyer, Arshdeep Randhawa, termed the police action against Sekhon as “politically motivated” and “intended to disrupt” the ongoing election campaign. “One sarpanch, who is also a candidate of AAP, has filed a complaint citing threat due to which this action has been taken,” said Randhawa.
Meanwhile, when asked why the Akali Dal did not field candidates in the zones where Sekhon’s family members are contesting, party spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema said, “The nomination papers of many of our candidates were rejected… perhaps in those areas as well.”
On Jindu campaigning for Sekhon-supported candidates, Cheema said, “In many constituencies, opposition candidates are joining hands against the ruling side where nomination papers of several candidates have been intentionally rejected”.
He added, “If anyone has cases pending, let the courts decide. Arresting someone on flimsy grounds is uncalled for.”
Naba jailbreak mastermind, social activist: Who is Gurpreet Shekhon
Once among Punjab’s most-wanted gangsters, Gurpreet Singh Sekhon has been trying to reinvent himself as a political and social figure. He has been involved in local welfare activities, and during the monsoon-induced floods, he supplied ration, cattle feed and other relief material to farmers in Ferozepur
Police records show that 47 cases were registered against Sekhon over the years, most of which have been disposed of. He was one of the masterminds of the sensational Nabha jailbreak incident in 2016 when the SAD-BJP government was in power. Sekhon along with five criminals and two terrorists were freed by 16 criminals after they launched an attack on the prison. Sekhon was rearrested in February 2017 and had been out on bail since November 22, 2023, in that case.
A resident of Mudki in Ferozepur district, Sekhon’s name also cropped up in the murder of gangster Sukha Kahlwan, who was shot dead in 2015 while being transported in police custody. Sekhon has also been associated with gangsters Shera Khubban, Vicky Gounder and Sukha Kahlwan, all of whom were later killed in police encounters.
Earlier, Sekhon had announced that he would contest the 2027 Punjab assembly polls. He had stated that he had forgotten his past, and was now looking forward to serve the people of his area.
His lawyer, Arshdeep Singh Randhawa said, “Sekhon came out of jail two years ago and there is not even a single case against him now. He has completely reformed himself. He had solemnised marriages of many poor girls, gave funds for road construction in the area and much more”.
Gurpreet Singh Sekhon during poll campaign in Ferozepur (Express Photo)
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