Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was granted bail by a Chandigarh court on Saturday in a defamation case linked to remarks he allegedly made about a religious organisation. The order was passed by the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate during a hearing held earlier in the day.
The development comes weeks after the court had cancelled Badal’s earlier bail and issued a non-bailable warrant against him due to his absence at a previous hearing in December. His legal team subsequently moved the court, seeking relief and explaining the circumstances behind his non-appearance.
The case was initiated in January 2017 by Rajinder Pal Singh, a spokesperson of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. Singh has accused Badal of making a statement that portrayed the organisation as having links with a terrorist outfit, a claim he termed defamatory and damaging to both his personal reputation and that of the religious body.
According to the complaint, the alleged remark was made without evidence and was aimed at maligning the organisation. It was further argued that the statement followed a meeting between Rajinder Pal Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, suggesting that political considerations may have influenced the comments.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had directed the Chandigarh Police to conduct a preliminary inquiry. Statements from both the complainant and the accused were recorded, with Singh standing by his allegations and Badal denying any wrongdoing. A factual report submitted by the police in November 2019 formed the basis for the continuation of the criminal defamation proceedings.
During Saturday’s arguments, Badal’s counsel submitted that his absence from court earlier was unintentional and not an attempt to evade the legal process. They also contended that the complaint was driven by political motives and lacked substance.
After hearing submissions from both sides, the court granted bail to Badal, allowing the case to proceed while he remains at liberty. Further hearings in the matter are expected in the coming weeks.
