Nabha/Patiala, Punjab: Akali Dal Panch Pardhani Former Chief and SGPC Member, Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind was was acquitted on Monday by a local court in a two-year-old case of waging war against the state and conspiracy in which provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were also slapped against him. Jalandhar (rural) police, who had in September 2012 claimed that Barapind was trying to revive terrorism in Punjab, failed to prove their case.
He was released from Nabha Maximum security jail, on Monday late evening (Sept. 29, 2014).
His counsel had argued before the court that Barapind was falsely implicated to muzzle his political activity, especially after he defeated SAD candidate in the 2011 SGPC elections, and was trying to bring anti-Akali Dal (Badal) groups on one platform. The court held that prosecution failed to buttress its case with credible evidence and testimonies. Two independent witnesses Dharampal and Varinder Singh also turned hostile.
Barapind was acquitted along with two other co-accused -Sandeep Singh and Sukhwinder Singh – by additional sessions judge Mandeep Singh Dhillon. He was arrested by Nawanshahr police on September 20 at 1.30am with cops claiming that he was taken into preventive custody in the view of Bharat Bandh call given by BJP and its allies on the issue
Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind was received outside Nabha jail by Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, Harpal Singh Cheema, Amrik Singh Issru, Mandhir Singh and Manjit Singh Bamb besides other leaders and other members of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani.