Punjab and Haryana High Court Reserves Verdict on Amritpal Singh's NSA Detention Challenge
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has reserved its verdict on a significant plea filed by Waris Punjab De chief and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. The plea challenges the legality of his third consecutive detention order under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
Court Proceedings and Detention Details
A division bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, concluded hearings from all parties involved and reserved the judgment on Wednesday. Amritpal Singh has been under preventive detention at Dibrugarh jail in Assam since April 2023. This detention follows an initial order issued on March 18, 2023.
In his legal challenge, Amritpal Singh specifically contests the third detention order dated April 17, 2025. This order was approved by the state government and subsequently confirmed on April 25, 2025, and June 24, 2025, respectively.
Grounds for Detention and Amritpal's Defense
The state authorities have cited multiple grounds for his continued detention. These include allegations of "conspiring with anti-national elements, notorious and dreaded gangsters, and terrorists" with the alleged objective to "physically eliminate persons" who might expose his activities.
Key specific grounds mentioned are:
- FIR No 159 of 2024: This involves the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau on October 9, 2024. Hari Nau was described as a former close associate of Amritpal who had distanced himself and was promoting a counter-narrative against 'Waris Punjab De' (WPD) on social media platforms.
- Intelligence Alert Dated March 23, 2025: This alert alleges that Amritpal, while incarcerated in Dibrugarh, directed the formation of the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) International Association in Canada. The association reportedly advocates for an armed struggle to establish "Khalsa Raj in the form of Khalistan", promotes arms training, and plans protests at Indian embassies.
Amritpal Singh's Counter-Arguments
In his plea, Amritpal Singh has strongly contested these allegations, presenting a detailed defense:
- Alibi for Murder Allegation: He argues that he was already in detention when the murder of Hari Nau occurred on October 9, 2024. Therefore, "there is no possibility or circumstance under which he could have been involved." His petition states that a review of the police report (under Section 173 CrPC) for the murder case "leads towards the conclusion that there is not an iota of evidence" against him.
- Denial of Operational Control: Regarding the allegations about the post-detention formation of AKF International, he asserts these are "purely speculative." He emphasizes that he was in "strict custody" and could not have exercised any leadership or operational control over such activities from within the jail.
- Assertion of Peaceful Intent: His petition also highlights that his public speeches have consistently focused on "preserving Sikh values, cultural identity, and constitutional rights." He claims to have been active in promoting social reform and youth de-addiction programmes across Punjab, portraying his work as constructive and within legal frameworks.
The court's reserved verdict now awaits final pronouncement, which will determine the future of Amritpal Singh's detention under the National Security Act.
