Setback For Punjab Police After High Drama: P&H High Court Refuses To Direct Detention Of Tajinder Bagga In Haryana
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has declined to grant any relief to the Punjab Police, that had moved the Court seeking direction to the Haryana Police to detain BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga in Haryana.
Tajinder Bagga was arrested today morning by a team of Punjab Police from his residence in Delhi. It is alleged by Bagga's father that he was punched by a Punjab Police officer while he tried to videograph the arrest of his son.
The arrest was made based on FIR registered in Punjab for tweets by Bagga against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
The arrest of Bagga lead to a storm on social media alleging that Arvind Kejriwal was targeting the BJP leader for political criticism, using the Punjab Police. There were protests in various parts of Delhi.
The Delhi police registered an FIR for abduction, on a complaint by Bagga's father. The Delhi Police then moved the Dwaraka Court and obtained a search warrant, as per ASG Satya Pal Jain. The search warrant was sent to the Haryana Police.
The police party taking Bagga to Mohali in Punjab was stopped by Haryana Police at Kurukshetra and taken to the Sadar Police station.
The Senior Superintendent of Punjab Police, SAS Nagar then addressed a letter to the SSP, Kurukshetra stating "That it has come to the notice of the undersigned that the police party has been stopped by Haryana Police on Karnal-Kurkshetra highway. This tantamounts to illegal detention and interference in administration of criminal justice system. It is submitted that the police party along with arrested accused may be released so that he may be produced before the court of Hon'ble Sh. Ravitesh Inderjeet Singh, JMIC, Mohali (S.A.S. Nagar) well with in time as per law."
The Delhi Police team then reached Kurukshetra and took Bagga into their custody.
In the meantime, the Punaby Police moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the detention of Bagga by the Haryana Police. It is reported that the Advocate General of Punjab, Anmol Rattan Sidhu appeared before Justice Lalit Batra. The Punjab AG alleged that the Haryana police wrongly interfered in the case and that Bagga did not respond to the five notices sent by the Punjab Police pursuant to the registration of FIR under Sections 153-A, 505/505(2) and 506 of the IPC for his remarks against Kejriwal.
ASG Satyapal Jain alleged that the Punjab Police did not inform Delhi Police about the arrest from Delhi. He also claimed that the arrest was a result of political vendetta.
The Bench declined to pass any order directing Haryana Police to detain Bagga in Haryana as prayed by Punjab. It is reported that the Bench has asked the Haryana Police to explain why it handed over Bagga to Delhi Police.
ASG Jain told the media that Haryana Police executed the warrant issued by the Dwraka Court and handed over Bagga to Delhi Police.
Bagga's lawyer Monica Arora has alleged that the Punjab Police did not follow the due procedure while arresting Bagga.
Tajinder Bagga has been brought to Janakpuri police station in Delhi by the Delhi Police.
