Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Tuesday approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him over his controversial remark that "50 bombs have reached Punjab."
The FIR was lodged after Bajwa, during a televised interview, claimed that 50 bombs had arrived in the state, out of which 18 had exploded and 32 were yet to go off.
The statement led to serious charges being framed against him, including provisions under Sections 197(1)(d) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relate to spreading false and misleading information that could endanger the sovereignty and unity of the country, and making statements that create enmity, hatred or ill will.
The case was registered at the Cyber Crime police station in Mohali. Following the remarks, a team of Punjab Police visited Bajwa's residence on Sunday and questioned him regarding the source of his claim.
On Tuesday, Bajwa confirmed through a post on social media platform X that he would be visiting the Cyber Cell in Mohali at 2 PM to give his statement in connection with the FIR.
Also Read: Bajwa grilled by Punjab CI over grenade claim
Earlier, police had issued a summons asking Bajwa to appear before the Mohali Superintendent of Police by Monday noon, but Bajwa conveyed his inability to comply, citing that he had received the summons late on Sunday night.
Senior advocate APS Deol, representing Bajwa, stated that a petition had been filed in the high court to quash the FIR, calling the charges against the Congress leader completely baseless.
The petition has been listed for hearing on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Congress party has come out in strong support of Bajwa, with several leaders terming the FIR a case of political vendetta. In protest, the Punjab Congress has announced that it will stage a demonstration on Tuesday against the registration of the FIR.
Also Read: FIR against Partap Bajwa over grenade claim in Punjab
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