Ludhiana: Sikh leader Bhai Daljit Singh was acquitted by a local Ludhiana court today in a 2012 UAPA case. The case was registered vide FIR No. 183, dated 21/09/2012, Under Section 25 of Arms Act, 3, 4, 5 Explosive Act, 121, 121A, 120B, 506 of Indian Penal Code, 17, 18, 18B, 21, 22, 38, 39, 40 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Police Station Division No. 5 Ludhiana.
The case was registered against Bhai Daljit Singh and British citizen Jaswant Singh Azad was named in this case at a later stage and he was produced before a local Ludhiana court in this case on Nov. 02, 2012. The police had alleged that Jaswant Singh Azad had lent his Ludhiana based building to Akali Dal Panch Pardhani for alleged “unlawful” purposes.
![Bhai Daljit Singh (C) with his counsel Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur (R) [May 24, 2016] | Photo: Harminder Singh/ Sikh Siyasat Photos](https://sikhsiyasat-en.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DSC_0020.jpg)
Bhai Daljit Singh (C) with his counsel Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur (R) [May 24, 2016] | Photo: Harminder Singh/ Sikh Siyasat Photos
Bhai Daljit Singh’s counsel Advo. Jaspal Singh Manjhpur told Sikh Siyasat News over phone that the court of additional sessions judge Sandeep Singh Bajwa today acquitted Bhai Daljit Singh and Jaswant Singh Azad. The prosecution had failed to prove the allegations put forward under the charge-sheet.
He said that the case was motivated by political reasons and it lacked factual and legal basis.
“UAPA, which is a virtual replacement of infamous TADA and POTA after 2008 and 2012 amendments, is being widely misused by governments and the police against those holding dissenting or different opinion than that of the state” said Advocate Manjhpur.
He said that a similar case was registered against Jaswant Singh Azad under UAPA at Jalandhar and Bhai Daljit Singh’s name was also attached to this case. He says that case is still pending in a trial court in Jalandhar. He said that the Jalandhar case too lacks factual and legal basis.