In a major development in the Tarn Taran Assembly by-election case, the court has ordered the release of Kanchanpreet Kaur after an extended late-night hearing. The decision has brought a significant shift in the ongoing legal proceedings, especially after her sudden arrest on Friday evening.
According to case details, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier granted Kanchanpreet interim protection with the direction to cooperate with the police investigation. Following this, she appeared at the Majitha police station on Friday as instructed. However, after nearly six hours of questioning, the police arrested her, stating her alleged involvement in criminal activities linked to her husband, Amritpal Singh Bath.
The police claimed that Kanchanpreet is an active member of the gang allegedly being operated by her husband, Amritpal Singh, who is currently abroad. Amritpal faces around 17 criminal cases, including charges such as murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and offences under UAPA. As per police records, he was accused of threatening voters during the Tarn Taran bypoll campaign, and an FIR (No. 208) had been registered at Jhabal police station. The FIR also mentioned an unidentified person, which later led to Kanchanpreet’s implication in the case.
Kanchanpreet’s arrest prompted immediate legal action by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Party spokesperson Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kaler filed an urgent petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Responding to the situation, Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj directed the Tarn Taran Area Magistrate-cum-JMIC Pankaj Verma to conduct an urgent night hearing and decide whether police remand was justified.
During the proceedings, the defense team, including Advocate Deepak Arora and Advocate Gauravdeep Singh Waltowa, argued that the charges imposed on Kanchanpreet, especially the non-bailable sections, were incorrectly applied. They informed that Justice Bhardwaj had observed inconsistencies in the application of non-bailable provisions and criticized the police action.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered her release, terming the imposition of non-bailable sections inappropriate. The decision brought immediate relief to Kanchanpreet and her family, while simultaneously raising questions over the police’s handling of the investigation. The court emphasized that legal procedures must be applied correctly and that the investigation should proceed based strictly on evidence rather than assumptions.
The case continues to attract political attention given its connection to the high-stakes Tarn Taran by-election and the involvement of prominent political families. The court’s order is expected to influence how the investigation progresses in the coming days, as well as how law enforcement agencies justify the charges framed earlier.
With the release order now in place, Kanchanpreet is expected to join further investigation as required, while her legal team prepares to challenge the sections applied against her and push for clarity in the allegations surrounding the bypoll incident.
