Now, Sukhbir wants to be examined in Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH: After former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, now Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal has written to special investigation team (SIT), probing incidents of police firing in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan during protests over sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, to shift the venue of his questioning from Amritsar to Chandigarh.
CHANDIGARH: After former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, now Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal has written to special investigation team (SIT), probing incidents of police firing in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan during protests over sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, to shift the venue of his questioning from Amritsar to Chandigarh.
The SAD chief, who was the deputy chief minister and held the home portfolio when the firing took place on October 14, 2015, was asked to appear before the probe team at the circuit house in Amritsar on November 19, as per the summons sent by SIT member and inspector general (IG) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh.
However, he wrote a letter to SIT head and additional director general of police (ADGP) Parbodh Kumar on Saturday seeking his appearance before the probe team in Chandigarh.
“I am a law-abiding citizen and believe the probe in this matter should be independent, impartial and fair. I shall appear before the SIT at your office in Chandigarh. I can also avail myself to you at any other place at Chandigarh as well,” reads the letter written by Sukhbir to the SIT head.
PROBE TEAM TO RESPOND TODAY
The SIT, which has received the letter, is yet to take any decision on Sukhbir’s request, said a member of the probe panel. The decision will be conveyed to the SAD chief on Sunday.
According to a senior SAD leader, the party is sticking to its strategy that all members of the SIT should examine the SAD chief rather than IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh alone, whom the party has dubbed as a “Congress agent” because of his statement over security cover provided to the Badal Senior.
In case of Badal too, the SIT had issued a notice under Section 160 CrPC and asked the former CM to appear in Amritsar on November 16.
However, after questions were raised by legal experts that any person above the age of 65 can be examined only at his house under Section 160, the SIT had to amend its earlier notice and Badal was questioned at his MLA flat in Chandigarh.
‘SUKHBIR CANNOT BE FORCED TO APPEAR IN AMRITSAR’
And in case of Sukhbir too, the legal advisers of SAD have suggested that the SAD chief cannot be forced to appear before SIT in Amritsar.
“Our legal team is of the firm view that as the FIR in which the party chief has to be examined is registered at Kotkapura, the SIT cannot ask him to appear in Amritsar under Section 160. Any witness who is below 65 can be examined in the jurisdiction of Kotkapura, where the First-Information Report (FIR) is registered or the nearby police station or at the camp office of the SIT which is at Faridkot or at the headquarters of the SIT at Chandigarh,” said a core-committee member of the party, seeking anonymity.