Patiala SSP Varun Sharma sent on leave amid viral audio-clip controversy: Sources
PTC News Desk: Ahead of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls on December 14, Patiala SSP Varun Sharma has been sent on one-week leave amid controversy surrounding alleged viral audio-clip.
Sources in the police department confirmed that SSP Sharma went on a week’s leave on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Sangrur SSP Sartaj Chahal has been given additional charge.
The action comes just before the High Court hearing, which on Monday told the state election commission to speed up its investigation into the audio clip released last week by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The clip allegedly features SSP Sharma instructing his team to prevent opposition candidates from filing nomination papers for the zila parishad and block samiti polls.
The petition calls for urgent judicial intervention to ensure free and fair elections, claiming that the police systematically blocked opposition candidates during nominations.
Filed as a public interest litigation by former MLA Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, it demands that SSP Sharma be suspended and that a CBI-monitored FIR be registered within seven days. The petition argues that an internal probe by the state police would be “pointless,” since the allegations involve the conduct of the police itself.
It also cites a viral conference-call recording submitted to the court, which allegedly includes instructions to stop rival candidates at their homes or on the way, follow orders from the local MLA, protect ruling AAP supporters with favorable reports, and push returning officers to reject opposition nominations—effectively ensuring uncontested victories and breaching the model code of conduct.
- PTC NEWS
