Setback for Sikh leader in Rajasthan treason case

Abohar, August 23

The court of Arun Meena of the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, has refused to quash the FIR of treason registered against Tejinderpal Singh Timma, a Sriganganagar-based Sikh leader. Timma was the chief sewadar of Baba Deep Singh Gurdwara Seva Samiti in Sriganganagar.

The HC has ordered Timma to cooperate in the police investigation. It added that if he did not cooperate or would be found guilty in the investigation, the police may arrest him by giving him a month’s notice.

According to the facts of the case, Lakhwinder Singh had filed a case against Timma on July 6 under Sections 152 and 197 (1) (c) of the BNS.

In his complaint to the police, Lakhwinder Singh said on July 5, a video was made by Tejinderpal Singh sitting in the office of Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh and uploaded on his social media handle. In it, he allegedly made comments against India about Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in the Dibrugarh Jail of Assam under the National Security Act. The complainant said Timma, in his speech, demanded a separate country and due to that, there could be a possibility of a fight or riot.

Lakhwinder Singh said that if Timma demanded a separate country in this way, then the public may get angry and it may result in an untoward incident. He also said Timma has been carrying the flag of a separate country in some programmes.

Timma approached the High Court and pleaded to cancel the FIR. Advocates who appeared in the High Court on behalf of Lakhwinder Singh and the state government said the allegations of treason against Timma in the FIR were serious. They said, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the said criminal miscellaneous petition filed by Tejinderpal Singh could not be accepted.

After hearing both sides of the argument, the Bench of Arun Meena refused to quash the petition filed by Timma. The court said, prima facie, the FIR cannot be quashed in view of the serious allegations against Timma.