Ahead of Punjab and Haryana HC hearing into audio clip PILs, Patiala SSP Varun Sharma goes on leave

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing PILs filed by Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who alleged that Opposition candidates were prevented from filing their nominations for the Zila Parishad elections.

The hearing of the petition will take place on Wednesday in the High Court.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government, saying “the issue does not end there”.

“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ji, by sending the SSP Patiala on leave before the court hearing, your government has admitted that you intended to misuse the police to loot the elections. But the issue does not end there,” Jakhar said in an X post in Punjabi.

“The politicisation of Punjab’s capable police force is the biggest cause for concern. This has already been proven during the Tarn Taran elections as well. This is a threat to democracy. The BJP will not allow this to happen,” he added.

The inquiry into the audio clip was entrusted to SPS Parmar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), by Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab.

Earlier, the court took note of the audio recording after the petitioner’s counsel presented it during the initial hearing. The petitioner alleged a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, and potential engineering of “uncontested wins” for AAP candidates.

The Patiala police have claimed that the clip is “fake”, and AI manipulated. The audio allegedly captures instructions to “tear up” Opposition nomination papers, block candidates en route to filing centres, and ensure positive reports only for AAP workers.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal publicly alleged targeted harassment of his party’s workers by the Patiala police.

The Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections will be conducted on December 14, and votes will be counted on December 17.