The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday extended the interim protection from arrest for Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa until May 7, regarding an FIR over his controversial “50 bombs have reached Punjab” statement. This decision prolongs the no-arrest order that was previously set to expire on April 22, following the court’s initial intervention.
Partap Singh Bajwa, who serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, faces charges under Sections 197(1)(d) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly disseminating false and misleading information that could endanger the country’s sovereignty and unity. The charges stem from a statement Bajwa made during an interview with a private television channel, claiming that out of 50 bombs that had supposedly reached Punjab, 18 had already exploded and 32 were pending detonation.
“The interim order will continue till the next date of hearing on May 7. There is a stay on arrest until then,” one of Bajwa’s counsels informed the press post-hearing. The counsel highlighted that while the arrest has been stayed, the investigation into the allegations remains active.
The FIR against Bajwa was lodged at the Cyber Crime police station in Mohali following his televised remarks. During a subsequent questioning session last week, which lasted approximately six hours, Bajwa was interrogated extensively about his statements. Afterward, he criticized the intense scrutiny as “sustained interrogation,” decrying it as a form of “political vendetta” by the state’s AAP government.
Bajwa’s legal team has argued that his comments were aimed at highlighting the alleged decline in law and order within the state, asserting that his role as the opposition leader justifies his actions as advocacy for public concern rather than an attempt to sow discord. They have filed a petition seeking the quashing of the FIR, citing it as an infringement on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
