Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher and electoral newcomer, secured victory in the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency, garnering 404,430 votes. However, his electoral success comes amid a backdrop of controversy, as Singh is currently incarcerated in Assam’s Dibrugarh central prison under the National Security Act (NSA) alongside nine associates. The 31-year-old faces a litany of legal issues, with 11 criminal cases pending against him in Punjab and one in Dibrugarh for alleged unauthorized use of electronic devices in prison.
Singh’s election papers reveal a series of allegations, including an attack on the Ajnala police station in Amritsar and multiple FIRs in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Moga, and Assam. Charges against him range from offenses under the Arms Act to giving provocative speeches and evading arrest, with incidents reported in various districts.
Despite the legal cloud hanging over him, Singh claims that no charges have been formally framed against him in any of the cases in Punjab and Assam, emphasizing his innocence.
Additionally, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, a senior member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), faces legal scrutiny with two police cases registered against him under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code by the Chandigarh police for alleged disobedience of public servant orders during protests in the state capital in 2020.
