Day later, Sukhbir booked for flouting Covid guidelines

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 29

Acting tough on SAD leaders for allegedly violating Covid guidelines and holding a massive gathering at the residence of SAD chief-cum-MP Ferozepur Sukhbir Singh Badal at Badal village here on Wednesday, the Lambi police have booked Sukhbir, former MLA Malout Harpreet Singh, Student Organisation of India’s newly appointed patron Bhim Waraich, its newly appointed president Arshdeep Singh Robin Brar, and over 150 other unidentified persons.

A case under Section 188 of the IPC has been registered. A large number of Akalis had yesterday gathered at the Badal residence here to thank Sukhbir for appointing Brar as SOI’s state president.

Sukhbir even addressed the gathering, a video of which went viral on the social media. Brar had appealed to the gathering not to make videos, fearing action for violating Covid guidelines. In the videos and photos that went viral, a number of people were seen without face masks.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s bother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal ‘Jojo’, through his posts on the social media, had mounted pressure on the police to register a case in this regard.

Ex-MLA, SOI chief held, later released

• Six accused, including former MLA Malout Harpreet Singh and SOI president Arshdeep Singh Robin Brar, were arrested on Thursday
• They were released on bail
• Speaking over the phone, Brar and Harpreet said they courted their arrest and were later granted bail