'Chandigarh Police Sheltering Janata Party Chief Who Forged MLA Signatures To File RS Nomination': Punjab Tells P&H High Court, Notice Issued

In a peculiar development, the Punjab Government has alleged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Chandigarh Police is shielding Janta Party Chief Navneet Chaturvedi, who is accused of forging the signatures of several Punjab MLAs to file a Rajya Sabha nomination.

Punjab Police on Monday reportedly registered multiple FIRs after several Aam Aadmi Party MLAs alleged that their signatures were forged on nomination papers submitted by Navneet Chaturvedi, who claims to be the national president of the Janata Party, for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll.

The Punjab Government filed the plea seeking directions to the Chandigarh Police to allow them to execute the arrest warrants, alleging that the Chandigarh Police obstructed the arrest on October 14 and forcibly took custody of the accused to their Headquarters, thereby sheltering him while he was wanted in a serious offence of forgery of nomination papers of 10 MLAs.

On the other hand, Chaturvedi has filed a plea alleging that the Punjab Police attempted to abduct him from a Chandigarh police station. However, no interim relief was granted and Punjab Police can execute the warrant.

Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya issued notice in both the pleas and listed the case for November 4.

Punjab Government Sought Contempt Proceedings & Departmental Proceedings Against Chandigarh SHO

In a plea filed by the Punjab Government it submitted that Navneet Chaturvedi, allegedly forged the signatures of sitting MLAs to project them falsely as proposers in his nomination, thereby committing grave offences under Sections 318, 336(2), 336(3), 336(4), 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Upon issuance of an arrest warrant on October 14, by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rupnagar, a police party from Ropar proceeded to execute the same in Chandigarh. However, during execution, officers of the Chandigarh Police, particularly the SHO, unlawfully obstructed the arrest, forcibly removed the accused from lawful custody, and subsequently sheltered him within the jurisdiction of Police Station Sector-3, Chandigarh, despite formal notices and requisitions under Sections 81 and 94 of the BNSS.

The Punjab Government, represented by AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi and Ad AG Chanchal Singla sought transfer of custody of the accused to Punjab Police, and initiation of contempt and departmental action against the SSP who allegedly came with heavy force to stall the execution.

The prayer was also made to direct DGP Chandigarh and other Chandigarh Police officials including SSP Kanwardeep Kaur to immediately hand over custody of the accused, Navneet Chaturved, to the Investigating Officer, Police Station City Ropar, and ensure his prompt production before the competent court at Rupnagar.

Chaturvedi Alleged Punjab Police Trying To Abduct Him From Chandigarh Police

Chaturvedi in his plea alleged that the Punjab Police Officials are trying to illegally abduct him from the jurisdiction of Chandigarh Police by using force and violence by attacking the Chandigarh Police Officials so that petitioner may not be able to avail his Statutory Remedies in accordance with law.

Advocate Nikhil Ghai appearing for him sought protection from arrest for 10 days in all FIRs and pending complaints, that have been registered against the petitioner in different districts of Punjab for the same cause of action, with the allegations of filing of nomination papers with forged signature of MLAs for themelection to the Rajya Sabha, so that he may be able to avail his legal remedies in accordance with law.