Chandigarh— Political temperatures in Punjab have soared ahead of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, with a controversial audio clip—allegedly featuring SSP Patiala Varun Sharma—triggering a major storm. The Punjab State Election Commission has now issued a notice to DGP Gaurav Yadav, directing him to conduct an immediate probe into the matter and submit a detailed report.
Sources said the Commission formally asked the DGP to verify the authenticity of the audio clip that surfaced on social media and caused a political uproar. The investigation order follows strict observations by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has been hearing a petition filed by the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The controversy escalated after Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal shared the purported audio on his social media handle, claiming that it featured SSP Varun Sharma discussing ways to block opposition candidates from filing nominations. The clip allegedly suggested using officials to stop nominees either on the way to the nomination centres or at their homes.
The High Court had earlier summoned the State Election Commission after the Akali Dal sought judicial intervention, accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and sections of the police of working together to prevent opposition candidates from entering the poll fray. The petition alleged that nomination papers were torn at several places and candidates were physically prevented from filing their documents.
Advocate Arshdeep Kaler, representing the petitioners, said the court took the allegations seriously as they pointed to a deliberate attempt to influence elections through intimidation. He added that the alleged instructions in the Patiala audio clip, if proven true, amounted to direct interference in the democratic process.
With the Election Commission now ordering a formal inquiry, the political confrontation in Punjab has intensified, and all eyes are on the findings of the DGP-led investigation.
