Ex-minister Lalli held for carrying revolver

SHAHKOT (JALANDHAR): Former Punjab home minister Brij Bhupinder Lalli, who recently switched from the Congress to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was arrested for taking his licensed revolver inside a polling booth at Sahla Nagar Patti in Malsian during voting for the Shahkot assembly bypoll on Monday. He later got bail.

The presiding officers in their complaint said Lalli entered the polling station forcibly and also misbehaved with staff. He was booked under sections 132 (misconduct at the polling station) and 134B (prohibition of going armed to or near a polling station) of the Representation of People Act and under section 188 (violation of prohibitory orders) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Lalli, who joined the SAD on May 18 showing resentment over the Congress ticket to Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, also had a scuffle with Congress workers outside the polling station; and was later kept at the local police post for five hours. Lalli’s counsel Karampal Singh, who reached the police post, said the police detained Lalli “in spite of the fact that all the charges are bailable”.

“He wanted to hand over the revolver to the security staff but some people started scuffling with him and also tossed his turban. Police failed to take action against the real culprits who removed Lalli’s turban and harassed him,” the lawyer said. He further said that Lalli had kept the revolver after the Congress government withdrew his security upon his joining SAD.

Naib Singh, SAD’S candidate, who also reached the spot, said police are under pressure of the state government. Dilbag Singh, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said, “As all the sections are bailable, Lalli was released on bail.”