Chandigarh— The Punjab-Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed that the alleged viral audio linked to Patiala SSP Varun Sharma be examined by the Chandigarh-based CFSL, delivering a major setback to the Punjab Government, which had sent Sharma on a week-long leave ahead of the hearing.
The order came during the hearing of multiple public interest petitions filed by the Shiromani Akali Dal, represented by Daljit Singh Cheema, Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa and leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The petitions sought a probe into alleged violence, intimidation and misuse of government machinery during the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab.
Appearing for the Akali Dal, senior advocate Ashok Aggarwal argued that petitioners had not been provided copies of relevant reports. He said a pen drive containing an audio clip submitted by Akali leader Arshdeep Singh Kaler was already with the authorities and that the probe must focus on verifying its authenticity rather than questioning its origin. He also demanded that the mobile phones of the police officers allegedly involved in the conversation be seized.
The pen drive submitted on December 7 had been sent earlier to the Mohali Forensic Laboratory for examination. SSP Sharma was placed on leave until the completion of the election process, while Sangrur SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal was given additional charge.
The State Election Commission assured the court that elections would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. When questioned by the Chief Justice, the Commission confirmed that Sharma was indeed on leave.
Meanwhile, Punjab Advocate General questioned how political parties could file such PILs. But the bench proceeded with the matter citing the seriousness of the allegations.
During the hearing, senior advocate Chetan Mittal, representing the BJP, said the phones of the officers who received the calls should be seized to ensure a fair probe. He argued that an impartial investigation could not be expected from the Mohali lab. This prompted the Chief Justice to ask the Commission why the audio was not being sent to a neutral lab to avoid any doubt. The Commission responded that the SIT, not the Commission, was handling the inquiry.
The BJP counsel further alleged that nomination papers of ordinary candidates were being snatched and torn, and government machinery was being openly misused—patterns he claimed were visible in both the Panchayat and earlier municipal corporation elections. He urged the court to ensure a time-bound investigation. The Chief Justice said the petition would be disposed of with two specific directions.
Appearing for the Congress, senior advocate APS Deol argued that the State Lab’s report could not be accepted and urged the High Court not to conclude the petition. He requested that the matter remain pending, saying that if any law-and-order issue emerged during the elections, the court should be available to intervene.
The Viral Audio Clip at the Centre of the Controversy
The dispute began after Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal released a call recording on social media, claiming it was from a Patiala Police conference call. He alleged that in the audio, SSP Varun Sharma could be heard instructing DSPs to trouble Akali candidates during nomination, and even encouraging officers to intercept or disrupt them in their homes, villages, or on the road—while advising them not to allow such actions near nomination centres.
However, Patiala Police dismissed the clip as an AI-generated fake. The action against the SSP came just hours before the High Court hearing.
