Mann acquitted in sedition case

Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, September 8

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge RK Vashisht on Saturday acquitted Simranjit Singh Mann, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president, in a sedition case registered 12 years ago by the then Congress government led by CMCapt Amarinder Singh.

The case had been registered under Sections 124-A, 153A, 153B and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly raising the issue of Khalistan, said Gurpreet Singh Saini, Mann’s lawyer. The action had been taken after getting permission from the Union Home Ministry.

Talking to mediapersons, Mann said 12 years ago the then Congress government had registered the sedition case against him for raising the issue of Khalistan on the complaint of Pritpal Singh Virk, Superintendent of Police (Detective), presently lodged in a jail in another case, allegedly on political grounds.

Later, the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government presented a challan in the court, just to please the Hindu community and get votes, the former MP alleged. He said the court had finally acquitted him of the charges, but he had to face great mental agony for 12 years. He would file a defamation suit against Capt Amarinder Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and Home Department officials so that no one would dare to file false cases in future.