Kanchanpreet Kaur, the daughter of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Tarn Taran bypoll candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, was released from police custody after a Tarn Taran court passed an order at 4 am Sunday.
The release came after the Punjab and Haryana High Court intervened, questioning the legality of her sudden arrest by the Punjab Police on Saturday afternoon. After the HC directions, the hearing started at 10.30 pm on Saturday and continued until Sunday morning.
It is another embarrassment for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, as earlier the Election Commission had taken serious note, saying the FIRs were registered against Akali leaders in a “coordinated manner” across four districts – Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Moga and Batala – during the bypolls. The EC called these FIRs potentially “motivated” attempts to intimidate Opposition workers and influence the bypoll outcome.
The EC had also suspended three top officers of the Tarn Taran police for allegedly misusing their power to influence the election in favour of the AAP.
Kanchanpreet initially visited the Majitha police station on Friday to cooperate with an investigation regarding a separate case. However, after six hours of interrogation, the police arrested her in connection with a different case involving her husband, gangster Amritpal Singh Bath.
The SAD legal team, led by Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kaler, immediately petitioned the High Court, arguing that arresting someone who voluntarily joins an investigation violates the principle of legal transparency.
The High Court criticised the police action and ordered that Kanchanpreet’s custody be transferred to the judicial magistrate. It further directed the Tarn Taran lower court to hold an immediate hearing to decide the matter. The lawyers of both sides reached the Tarn Taran court from Chandigarh on Saturday evening and, in compliance with this directive, the local court began proceedings at 10.30 pm.
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After an intense argument that stretched into early Sunday morning, the court ruled the arrest unjustified and ordered her immediate release. Upon her release, Kanchanpreet thanked her party supporters and leaders who had gathered outside the court throughout the night.
The arrest, which has sparked allegations of political vendetta from the SAD leadership, stems from an FIR registered at Jhabal police station during the recent Tarn Taran bypoll period against alleged gangster Amritpal Singh Bath. Recently, Punjab chief minister Bhagwat Mann had alleged SAD(B) for giving a ticket to the gangster’s mother-in-law.
The arrest was executed under FIR No. 208, which includes charges under sections 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 351(3) (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), and 111 (organised crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the official ground of arrest provided to Kaur, the police allege she collaborated with Canada-based gangster Amritpal Singh Bath to engage in organised criminal activities and intimidate voters and complainants during the Tarn Taran assembly bypoll. The document further claims she could have threatened witnesses and posed a risk of tampering with evidence, such as mobile phones and laptops. Authorities also noted she allegedly entered India illegally without proper immigration checks.
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On November 11, the Jhabal police registered a case against alleged gangster Amritpal Singh Bath for allegedly making a WhatsApp call to a voter, threatening him and pressuring him to vote for the Akali Dal in the Tarn Taran bypoll.
Gurmeet Kaur, wife of Narinder Singh, a resident of Padhri Kalan, alleged that he received a WhatsApp call in which the caller said, “I am Amritpal Bath speaking, you must vote for Shiromani Akali Dal; if you don’t, we know other ways to get votes cast.” Kanchan was nominated in this FIR on Friday.
Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.
Core Beats & Specializations
Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.
National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.
Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:
1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht
"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.
"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.
"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.
2. Crime & National Security
"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.
"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.
"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.
3. Political Analysis & Elections
"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.
"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.
"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.
4. Human Interest
"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.
"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.
Signature Beat
Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.
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