In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted temporary relief to senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, by directing the state government not to arrest him until the next hearing scheduled for April 22. The interim protection was issued on Wednesday after Bajwa moved the court seeking quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him over a controversial statement regarding alleged explosives in Punjab.
The legal action stems from Bajwa’s sensational claim during a televised interview where he stated that “50 bombs have reached Punjab,” further alleging that while 18 had already exploded, 32 were yet to go off. The statement sparked widespread concern and criticism, prompting the Punjab Police to book him under serious sections of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include Section 197(1)(d) pertaining to false and misleading information that threatens the nation’s sovereignty and unity, and Section 353(2), which relates to statements intended to incite enmity and hatred.
Following the registration of the FIR at the Cyber Crime police station in Mohali, Bajwa was questioned by police officials earlier this week. According to his legal counsel APS Deol, the Congress veteran cooperated fully with the authorities during the session. Deol also confirmed that the High Court has not only granted relief from arrest but has also instructed Bajwa to refrain from making any public statements about the ongoing case while the matter is sub judice.
The petition filed by Bajwa contests the maintainability of the charges leveled against him, particularly the interpretation and application of the new criminal code sections. The High Court has now asked the Punjab government to submit its response to the plea before the next hearing, thereby temporarily diffusing the political and legal tension surrounding the issue.
This incident comes at a politically sensitive time in Punjab, where law and order, internal security, and political rhetoric have become central themes in the public discourse. Bajwa’s explosive claim not only stirred security concerns but also drew criticism from opponents who accused him of spreading panic and misinformation. The state government’s swift decision to file an FIR indicated its intent to clamp down on statements that could potentially incite fear or instability.
However, Bajwa and his supporters have maintained that his remarks were made in the interest of national and regional security, claiming that he was merely echoing ground-level intelligence received from local sources. They allege that the FIR is a politically motivated move to silence opposition voices. Legal experts watching the case suggest that it could become a landmark test of how the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will be interpreted in cases involving public speech by elected officials.
The High Court’s intervention has brought temporary relief for Bajwa, but it also underscores the growing friction between opposition leaders and ruling authorities in Punjab. As the April 22 hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the courtroom proceedings, which are expected to have implications not just for Bajwa personally, but also for the broader debate on political accountability, freedom of expression, and national security in India’s federal framework.
With the legal and political stakes high, the case has emerged as a flashpoint in Punjab’s contemporary political narrative, highlighting the thin line between whistleblowing and alarmism, especially in a state that has historically been sensitive to issues of internal peace and public order.
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