Bathinda: In a significant development in the high-profile Maur bomb blast case that occurred just days before the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, a court in Talwandi Sabo has ordered the matter to be expedited and heard on a priority basis.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Neeraj Goyal directed that the case be fast-tracked to ensure its early disposal. The court has issued summons and notices to 18 key witnesses and directed them to appear during the next hearing.
According to court records, statements of 33 witnesses have already been recorded in the case. However, during the latest hearing held on Monday, no witness appeared before the court, prompting the court to take a stricter stance regarding the proceedings.
The 18 witnesses summoned by the court are considered crucial to establishing important links in the investigation. Among those called are a bank manager who is expected to provide records related to alleged financial transactions involving the accused persons.
The court has also summoned several shopkeepers from Sirsa and nearby areas who allegedly sold spare parts, scrap material and other components used to modify the white Maruti 800 car that was reportedly involved in the blast.
Additionally, two doctors have been directed to appear before the court. One of them was involved in providing treatment to the injured victims immediately after the explosion at Bathinda Civil Hospital, while the other conducted post-mortem examinations of those who lost their lives in the incident.
The Maur bomb blast remains one of Punjab’s most sensitive criminal cases, as the explosion occurred just four days before the 2017 Assembly elections and resulted in multiple casualties and injuries.
The matter will now come up for hearing on July 9, 2026, when the court is expected to record further evidence and witness testimonies.