Supreme Court decision deals a blow to AAP as bail cancellation for Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira is denied

The Supreme Court rejected the Punjab government's appeal to cancel bail for Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira, tied to a 2015 NDPS Act case. Justices Bela M Trivedi and KV Viswanathan affirmed the High Court's decision, citing the case's specifics despite serious allegations. Khaira's arrest in connection with criminal intimidation added political complexity to the initial NDPS case.

Image Source -www.indianexpress.com

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Punjab government's efforts to cancel the bail granted to Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira. The case, rooted in a 2015 NDPS Act violation, had seen the Punjab and Haryana High Court grant Khaira bail, a decision now affirmed by the apex court. Justices Bela M Trivedi and KV Viswanathan, the bench overseeing the case, expressed their reluctance to intervene in the High Court's order issued on January 4.

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Punjab government, faced disappointment as the Supreme Court maintained its stance despite acknowledging the serious nature of the allegations against Khaira. The court, considering the specific facts and circumstances of the case, chose not to interfere with the High Court's decision.

Sukhpal Khaira, an influential Congress MLA representing the Bholath assembly constituency, had initially faced arrest in September of the previous year in connection with an eight-year-old case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This led to accusations of political vendetta against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by the ruling Congress in the state.

Also Read: Samsung Introduces Galaxy S24 Series In India: Unveiling Prices And Essential Highlights

While seeking bail, Khaira's alleged involvement in the NDPS case came to light during investigations conducted by a special investigation team. The case, registered in March 2015 in Jalalabad, Fazilka, resulted in the conviction of nine individuals, including Gurdev Singh, purportedly a close associate of Khaira. The police had seized two kilograms of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, a country-made pistol, and two Pakistani SIM cards during the course of the investigation.

Adding a layer of complexity, Khaira was subsequently arrested in connection with a new case related to criminal intimidation. Despite the legal battles, on January 15, a court in Kapurthala granted bail to the Congress MLA in the criminal intimidation case, further fueling the political dynamics in Punjab.