NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab tells high court

“You have 80,000 cops, how did Amritpal Singh escape?” Punjab and Haryana high court asks state govt, while deferring hearing for a week

The Punjab government on Tuesday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that the National Security Act has been invoked against absconding Waris De Punjab chief Amritpal Singh.

Sikh radical leader and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh (centre) has been absconding since Saturday. The stringent NSA Act has been invoked against him and his role is being probed in five criminal cases. (Reuters file photo)

The state’s response came to a plea seeking the “release” of Amritpal Singh.

The habeas corpus plea was filed by Iman Singh Khara, the legal adviser to Waris Punjab De. He demanded Amritpal’s “release”, claiming that he was is in the “illegal custody” of the police.

During the hearing, the court questioned Punjab Police on how Amritpal Singh escaped even as there was heightened security in view of G20 summit in Amritsar.

“When there were 5-6 FIRs and you are saying there are 5-6 criminal cases against him, how did he manage to escape? What were 80,000 cops doing?” the bench of justice NS Shekhawat observed, referring to Punjab government’s submissions.

Earlier, the state’s advocate general, Vinod Ghai, informed the court that Amritpal Singh was not in police custody and had been declared a fugitive.

Ghai said that the NSA Act had been invoked against Amritpal Singh and his role is being probed in five criminal cases.

“There are certain details that can’t be revealed in an open court,” the AG said, adding that the search for the radical Sikh leader was on.

Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh also appeared before the court and tried to address it. However, the court said that he was not a party before it and if he wanted to submit something, he should first file an application.

The court deferred the hearing for a week and sought a fresh affidavit from the government.