Police drop sedition charges against former BSP MLA

SBS NAGAR : Police have dropped sedition charge against the former Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) MLA, Shingra Ram Shahungra, informed MLA counsel Harmesh Suman. The fact came to light during the bail plea of Shingra Ram at the district and sessions court, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

Suman said that the SIT dropped the sedition charge against the former MLA observing that the MLA made statements unintentionally while protesting against the demolition of Guru Ravidas temple. The MLA had made remarks depicting Lord Rama in bad light and had also given statement against state while addressing the gathering.

Bharti Angra, main complainant in the case, said that police had given benefit of doubt to the accused by dropping sedition charge against him. We will wait for the court order on September 10 on his bail petition before planning the next step.

SBS Nagar senior superintendent of police Alka Meena did not respond to several calls and messages made by HT while another SIT member, Khanna SP (investigation) Jasbir Singh, refused to comment on the issue.

Earlier, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Ludhiana, Ranbir Singh Khatra, has constituted a four-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the sedition charge against Shingara Ram, who is currently lodged in Ludhiana jail. SIT members include SBS Nagar SSP Alka Meena, SBS Nagar SP (investigation) Wazir Singh Khaira, Khanna SP (investigation) Jasbir Singh and SBS Nagar CIA (crime investigation agency) in-charge Ajitpal Singh.

Meanwhile, additional session court have reserved the verdict on the bail plea of former BSP MLA until September 10.