Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19

The three farm activists, who were remanded in judicial custody on Sunday in connection with the alleged vandalism of BJP leaders’ cars during a protest by pro-farmer organisations on Saturday, were today granted bail on the surety of Rs1 lakh each by the magistrate court of Chandigarh.

The three, Malwinder Pal Singh, Harpreet Singh and Rajinder Singh, were booked under Sections 147, 148, 149, 269, 270, 341, 427, 506, 332 and 353 of the Indian Penal Code.

“The hearing of the bail plea started at 11.30 am and at about 4.30 pm, rehearing of the case was done in the presence of the investigating officer (IO), who came along with a video footing of the protest to show the involvement of the accused. However, he failed to show any direct involvement of the three accused,” said advocate Vipin Kumar.

Bhaag Singh Suhag, president of the District Bar Association, said: “Initially, the IO didn’t get even bring his file containing the records of the incident that transpired on Saturday. The court had called the IO at 2 pm, but he came with all records around 5 pm.”

Suhag said: “We argued the case on many grounds such as why some FIRs were filed in the Sector 49 police station, the jurisdiction of which falls in the area where the incident happened, but those arrested were sent to the Sector 31 police station. Also, we questioned the re-arrest of Malwinder Pal Singh, who was released on bail on Saturday. In fact, we also argued on the last-minute additional charges that were slapped on the protesters.”

Suhag added, “The investigating officer and SHO failed to show any direct involvement of the three accused in Saturday’s incident.”

Suhag said the lawyers would now apply for a certified copy of the bail. “We will also file a petition for quashing of the FIRs against the accused at the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” he added.

The case against the three is being fought for free by eight lawyers, including Bhaag Singh Suhag, president of the city’s District Bar Association.