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‘Will you wait till eternity?’: HC tells Punjab poll panel to submit SSP audio clip report in 3 weeks

Punjab counsel blames the delay on Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, accusing him of not submitting his mobile phone.

3 min readJan 15, 2026 02:51 PM IST

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has reprimanded the Punjab SEC for delaying the probe into an audio clip allegedly featuring the Patiala SSP.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC) of Punjab over the delay in completing the investigation into an audio clip allegedly featuring the Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) giving directions to DSPs during the civic body elections. It directed the commission to submit the report within three weeks.

Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema, a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry questioned why the special investigation team had failed to submit its report more than a month after the court’s earlier order on December 10.

During a prolonged exchange with counsel for the SEC, the Chief Justice repeatedly sought a clear timeline, asking, “How long will you wait?” and at one stage remarking, “Will you wait till eternity?”

The SEC’s counsel told the court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was trying to “get the original source”. He said the SIT has written to the social media platform to get the IP address of the instrument on which the audio was uploaded. “Then the forensic analysis will be complete,” he added.

When Chief Justice Nagu asked what would happen if the data was not forthcoming, the counsel said the SIT would proceed on the basis of whatever material was available.

Unconvinced, the bench observed that an investigation could not be kept open-ended. “You have to complete the investigation,” the Chief Justice said, adding that the court was not expected to wait indefinitely for forensic reports.

Poll panel overseeing probe

At this point, Cheema’s counsel pointed out that the Punjab Police had only taken a few days to conduct a forensic analysis of an audio in Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi’s case. Chief Justice Nagu, however, said he was not concerned with that case.

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The SEC counsel acknowledged that the SIT had been constituted by the director general of police on the Election Commission’s request and that the poll panel was overseeing the probe. When the court remarked that the Election Commission was the “ultimate authority” during the election process, the counsel agreed, following which the Chief Justice said, “We will hold you responsible.”

At this stage, Punjab Advocate General MS Bedi sought to intervene, submitting that the delay was being caused because Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal had not submitted the mobile phone on which the audio had allegedly been received. The Chief Justice, however, declined to hear the submission, observing that the state had no role to play in the matter as the inquiry was being supervised by the SEC.

The bench further noted that non-cooperation by individuals could not justify an indefinite delay in the investigation. “We are not supposed to wait till eternity,” the Chief Justice reiterated, directing that the probe be taken to its logical end.

Recording the assurance of counsel for the SEC that the SIT report would be filed within three weeks, the court listed the matter for hearing in the first week of February.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More