Justice Ranjit Singh panel to submit report next month

SANGRUR: Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission, formed by the Punjab government to probe incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and other religious texts, is likely to submit its report by May-end.

“We have covered the state. Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Mansa and Bathinda are left. They will also be completed till May. The government has sought a single report and the commission will file its report after completing these districts next month,” said justice Ranjit (retd).

He, accompanied by joint director, prosecution, Angrez Singh and registrar JP Mehmi, was in town to visit Mehla village, Khadiyal and Rasaldar Channa villages in the district as part of his probe report into sacrilege incidents that happened over 2015 to 2016.

The previous SAD-BJP regime had formed a justice Zora Singh commission report to look into the incidents, but the Congress government formed the new panel.

On SAD’S opposition to the commission, he said, “I don’t want to comment. The people will judge. The commission has called former CM Parkash Singh Badal to clarify its doubts. However, if he is not ready to join the probe, it is fine.” On March 12, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, during a Pol Khol rally in Lehragaga, had called justice Ranjit a Congressman.

“I am a judicial officer and have served as a judge. People know about my role and services,” justice Ranjit told HT on Wednesday. He added the commission will visit Malerkotla on April 25 to record statements of witnesses wanting to give statements. “It was a big incident and we have decided to give an entire day to probe the case,” he added.

On Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from New Delhi’s Mehrauli, Naresh Yadav, who was booked by the Sangrur police in connection with the Quran sacrilege incident, claimed the inquiry commission had not contacted him since.