Delhi Police’s Special Cell has registered an FIR against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He is accused of trying to disturb peace in the national capital before Republic Day. Officials said the action followed a video in which Pannun claimed that “sleeper cells” had pasted pro-Khalistan posters in Delhi’s Rohini and Dabri areas.
Charges Under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS)
The case has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. These include Section 196 for promoting enmity, Section 197 for statements harmful to national integration, Section 152 for acts threatening India’s sovereignty and unity, and Section 61 for criminal conspiracy.
Police Verification of Poster Claims
An officer involved in the probe said Pannun, who lives in the United States, shared the video on social media. However, police teams inspected the locations mentioned in the clip and did not find any such posters.
In the same video, he allegedly used abusive slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. HT could not independently verify the video.
Alleged Reward and Threats Before Republic Day
Officials said Pannun announced a reward of US$111,000 for stopping the Prime Minister from hoisting the national flag on January 26. He also allegedly called for Khalistan flags to be placed on railway tracks in Punjab and encouraged other disruptive acts.
“An FIR has been registered and the matter is being investigated. We are verifying all claims made in the video and monitoring online platforms closely,” a senior police officer said.
Security Tightened in Delhi
This development comes as Delhi Police has increased security ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations. After receiving several terror-related alerts from intelligence agencies, authorities have set up a multi-layer security system. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces are heavily deployed around Kartavya Path and across the New Delhi district to maintain safety during the national event.