Chandigarh: A court in Chandigarh on Saturday granted bail to former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in connection with a defamation case that has been pending for several years. The order was passed by the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate during a scheduled hearing.
At the previous hearing held in December, the court had cancelled Badal’s bail bonds and issued a non-bailable warrant after he failed to appear before it. His absence led to fresh legal complications in the case, prompting his counsel to seek relief during Saturday’s proceedings.
The complaint dates back to January 2017 and was filed by Rajinder Pal Singh, a spokesperson of the religious organisation Akhand Kirtani Jatha. Singh had accused Badal of making defamatory remarks by allegedly linking the organisation to extremist elements, a claim that he said had harmed both his personal reputation and the standing of the group.
According to the complainant, the statement in question was made without any factual basis and was intended to malign him and his organisation. It was further alleged that the remarks were issued in the aftermath of a meeting between Rajinder Pal Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, suggesting political motives behind the statement.
The court had earlier directed the police to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. Following this, statements from both parties were recorded. While Rajinder Pal Singh reiterated his accusations, Badal denied making any defamatory remarks. Chandigarh Police later submitted a factual inquiry report in November 2019, after which the criminal defamation complaint formally proceeded in court.
During Saturday’s hearing, advocates Damanbir Singh Sobti and Arshdeep Singh Kler, appearing on behalf of Badal, argued that his failure to attend the earlier hearing was not deliberate. They maintained that the case was politically motivated and lacked merit, terming it frivolous.
After considering submissions from both sides, the court decided to grant bail to Badal. The matter will now continue in accordance with the law on the next date of hearing.
