Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab on a petition filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann for quashing of FIRs registered against him after the Sarbat Khalsa on November 10.
Mann has sought directions from High Court for quashing the FIR registered against him at Chatiwind police station in Amritsar on November 12 for sedition and other offences.
Mann’s counsel Ranjan lakhanpal claimed that Mann has been falsely implicated in the case. He submitted in the court that the case was registered after Sarbat Khalsa was held on November 10. He said that organizing Sarbat Khalsa was a matter of right for all Sikhs and it could not be dubbed as a crime.
lakhanpal submitted organising Sarbat Khalsa was a matter of right for all Sikhs and it could not be dubbed as a crime and if some slogans were raised there, in the presence of lacs of people Mann cannot be held responsible for those slogans.
“No illegal activity was done over there. The FIR does not mention as to which resolution was illegal and what were the contents of the resolution. Mere appointment of Jathedar of Akal Thakht cannot be termed as illegal or against any other law of land. There was no allegation against the petitioner that he spoke at stage, raised slogan or other overt act at all,” he added.
The counsel further said that he had been accused of organizing Sarbat Khalsa and passing resolutions, including appointment of Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht Jathedar. He had also been accused of congratulating Hawara on social media. Hearing the plea, High Court issued notice to the state for January 25, 2016.