Habeas Plea Claims Alleged Khalistani Sympathiser Detained Illegally By State Police, High Court Issues Notice To Punjab Govt

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday issued notice to the Punjab Government on a habeas corpus plea moved before it seeking the production/release of alleged separatist leader and chief of 'Waris Punjab De' organization, Amritpal Singh.

The bench of Justice NS Shekhawat issued this notice on a plea moved by one Imaan Singh Khara, legal advisor of 'Waris Punjab De', claiming that Singh had been illegally and forcibly detained by the Punjab Police without the authority of law. 

Before the Court, Khara's counsel argued that the 'Waris Punjab De' was formed to fight for social justice and preserve the rights and culture of Punjab and the chief of the organization is Amritpal Singh, who was illegally and forcibly detained by the State Police and the Central Para Military Forces from the area of Shahkot, District Jalandhar without disclosing any reasons and even he was not informed about the grounds of his arrest.

It was further claimed that Sigh has been detained for the last more than 24 hours and the respondents are not disclosing anything about his whereabouts. 

On the other hand, the state police, as well as the MHA, have claimed that Singh is still on the run and hasn't been nabbed yet. Though several of his aids have been arrested recently.

However, hearing the case in a special Sunday hearing, the High Court issued notice to the State government and posted the matter for further hearing on March 21.

For the uninitiated, Amritpal Singh is stated to be a self-styled radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathizer. The state police initiated a massive manhunt backed by a comprehensive plan to take immediate action against him last month after his supporters stormed a police station near Amritsar on February 23 to free one of his associates from custody.

The state police claimed that it chased Singh’s Mercedes vehicle for about 25 km in Jalandhar district’s Malsian on March 18, however, he managed to flee.

Appearances

Advocate J.S. Warring, for the petitioner.

Advocate General, Vinod Ghai, Punjab assisted by Senior DAG, Punjab, Anu Pal, for the respondents.

Case title - Imaan Singh Khara Vs State of Punjab and others [CRWP-2757-2023]

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