FARIDKOT: Facing four cases in different police stations of Punjab, Sikh preacher and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) member Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal on Thursday got bail in one of the cases. Two of Daduwal’s followers also got bail in the case registered by Jaito police of the district on August 21 under the Arms Act. However, Daduwal will not be released from jail as three more cases are still pending.
On August 21, Jaito police had arrested Daduwal in a 5-year-old case from Gurdwara Jandalisar Sahib in Bathinda and had recovered eight weapons. Two of his followers — Rajinder Singh and Ranbir Singh — were also arrested in the case.
Daduwal’s counsel Kulinder Singh on Thursday produced licenses of all the weapons issued by Bathinda deputy commissioner in the name of Daduwal, Rajinder and Ranbir. Taking up the case, Faridkot additional sessions judge Karnail Singh granted bail to the three.
Kulinder Singh said that as he (Daduwal) has got bail in one case, bail applications in other cases will also be moved soon. All the cases are politically motivated for his siding with HSGMC, Singh said.
Daduwal faces two cases of attempt to murder at Jaito and Bhikhi in Mansa. These cases pertain to clashes with Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda followers registered in 2009 and 2011. He also faces another case under the Arms Act in Mansa.
The cases were reopened immediately after the byelection to Talwandi Sabo assembly seat on August 21 and were alleged to have been opened as Daduwal was at the forefront of HSGMC taking control of Guhla Cheeka Gurdwara.
A week earlier, police had also produced a handwritten note by Daduwal wherein it was claimed that Daduwal has resigned from HSGMC and has accused committee president Jagdish Singh Jhinda of trying to contest upcoming assembly elections on Congress ticket. The committee and family members of Daduwal had disowned the note.