E-Paper
Punjab zila parishad polls: SAD accuses Patiala police of irregularities
Sukhbir Singh Badal shares audio of police conference call to prove point, complains to state election commission; Patiala SSP says clip fake.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday accused Patiala senior superintendent of police Varun Sharma and other district police officers of orchestrating a conspiracy to deter opposition candidates from filing nomination papers for the December 14 zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections.
The SAD has already filed a complaint with the state election commission, alleging that a leaked audio clip reveals that the senior officers are planning to deter opposition candidates in connivance with ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.
Thursday is the last day of the nomination process that began on December 1 followed by scrutiny on December 5 and withdrawal of candidature until 3pm on December 6.
When contacted, Patiala deputy commissioner Dr Preeti Yadav, who is also the district election officer, didn’t respond to repeated calls and messages.
Divisional commissioner Vinay Bublani, who is the election observer, said, “The state election commission is already looking into the issue. So far, there are no irregularities. We have taken proactive steps for free and fair elections.”
An estimated 1.36 crore voters are eligible to participate in the elections, the results of which will be declared on December 17.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal posted the alleged conference call audio clip on social media stating that the SSP is heard issuing instructions to stop candidates at their houses, villages, or en route to the nomination centres, rather than at the centres.
The SAD leader said that DSPs could be heard acknowledging the SSP’s orders. The opposition party alleged that were taking directions from politicians, with an officer claiming that AAP leader Ranjodh Hadana is “satisfied” with his work.
Terming it “a murder of democracy”, the SAD leader urged the Election Commission to suspend the officers involved and initiate a probe. The party, he said, was prepared to submit recordings, transcripts and witness accounts as evidence.
The police, however, rejected the allegations. SSP Sharma said in a statement that the video and audio being shared online were “fake AI-generated content” created “with malicious intent to mislead the public and disturb law and order”. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible and appealed to the citizens not to believe disinformation. “We remain committed to ensuring free and fair elections,” he said.
Badal maintained that the recording had exposed the misuse of the police force to secure electoral advantage for the ruling party. He alleged that district administration officers were acting as “an instrument of political coercion” against opposition candidates.
SAD moves HC, hearing on Monday
SAD leader Daljeet Singh Cheema on Thursday moved the Punjab and Haryana high court alleging misuse of police machinery to subvert the electoral process.
The plea seeking an independent probe into the audio clip was taken up on Thursday afternoon and the hearing was deferred for Monday. It also sought the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) or independent observers till the conduct of elections.
The government opposed the PIL claiming that it was a “political interest litigation”.
Patiala police register FIR under IT Act
Patiala police registered an FIR under the Information Technology Act against unidentified individuals for allegedly circulating an AI-generated video and audio clip on social media, portraying the SSP and other police officials in a conference call.
