Tarn Taran: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has called upon the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) on November 25 regarding the registration of nine FIRs against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers during the recent Tarn Taran by-election.
According to EC sources, the summons follows a review of a report submitted by the DGP on November 13, a day before the bypoll results were announced. The FIRs, allegedly registered in a “coordinated manner,” spanned four districts: Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Moga, and Batala.
Punjab Police had earlier submitted a confidential report prepared by ADGP Ram Singh, defending the actions of former Tarn Taran SSP Ravjot Kaur Grewal, who had been suspended by the poll panel on November 8. However, a separate report by the Election Observer for the constituency, Shyni S, an IPS officer of the Odisha cadre, reportedly pointed to coordinated arrests and questioned the justification for filing the FIRs and making arrests within a limited time frame. The observer’s report flagged “serious concerns about impartiality of law enforcement during the election period.”
Of the nine FIRs, four SAD workers were arrested while six others were named in the cases. The Shiromani Akali Dal had approached the EC, alleging targeted action against its party members.
Earlier, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, Sibin C, had sought clarification from the DIG of Ferozepur Range, who cleared former SSP Ravjot Kaur, stating the arrests were part of ongoing investigations. Subsequently, the EC directed the CEO to escalate the matter to the DGP.
In his communication to the Punjab DGP, the CEO wrote, “…I am directed by the ECI to convey to you to review all alleged wrongful registration of cases and arrests during MC by a senior officer not below the rank of ADGP and take necessary action as per law within 36 hours. The compliance report in the form of action taken on the above direction may be sent to the undersigned for submission to the ECI.”
The development highlights the poll body’s continued vigilance to ensure neutrality and fairness in law enforcement during election processes.
