In a big jolt for the government of Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday quashed the FIRs lodged against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas and BJP leader Tajinder Bagga. Kumar Vishwas and Tajinder Bagga were booked in separate cases by the Punjab Police. The verdict to quash the FIRs against Vishwas and Bagga was taken by the bench of Justice Anoop Chitkara. Reportedly, in its verdict, the High Court observed, 'The court’s non-interference would result in a miscarriage of justice.'
As the two had filed individual petitions, two separate orders were issued by the court. Reportedly, the High Court observed, "The court’s non-interference would result in a miscarriage of justice, and thus, the court invokes the inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of CrPC and quashes the FIR and all subsequent proceedings qua the petitioner. All pending application(s), if any, stand closed."
As soon as the verdict of the high court came in, Bagga took to his Twitter handle and slammed Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal saying that the truth has won and like today the Delhi CM has lost the case he will also lose Delhi.
Satyamev Jayate
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) October 12, 2022
Big slap on @ArvindKejriwal Face. Punjab High court Quashed FIR against Me & @DrKumarVishwas ji
Haryana, Punjab CMs to meet over Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal
FIR against Kumar Vishwas and Tajinder Bagga by Punjab Police
For the unversed, Punjab Police lodged an FIR against former AAP leader Kumar Vishwas for allegedly giving inflammatory statements against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other charges. Vishwas was booked by the police at Rupnagar on April 12 this year under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to promoting enmity between groups, criminal conspiracy, publishing or circulating news with intent to create enmity on the grounds of religion or race, besides under the Representation of People Act.
On the other hand, BJP leader Tajinder Bagga was booked and even was arrested by the Punjab police from his residence in Delhi in connection with making allegedly inflammatory statements to flare up communal enmity. Punjab Police in a statement had said an FIR was registered against Mr. Bagga on April 1, 2022 under Sections 153 A, 505, 505(2), 506 of the Indian Penal Code at the Punjab State Cyber Crime wing at Mohali in S.A.S Nagar district. However, Bagga's arrest took an ugly turn as the Delhi Police had filed an FIR against the Punjab Police for 'kidnapping', saying it has not followed proper rules during the arrest of Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga. The Punjab Police cavalcade carrying the BJP spokesperson was also stopped in Kurukshetra, Haryana while on its way back. Notably, the Punjab Police in its defense had stated that it had intimated the Janakpuri police station before apprehending Bagga after he failed to appear before the police, despite being served five notices.