In a dramatic overnight legal battle that concluded in the early hours of Sunday, Judicial Magistrate First Class Pankaj Verma ordered the release of Kanchanpreet Kaur from police custody at approximately 4 a.m., marking a significant development in the ongoing political tensions in Punjab.
Marathon Court Session Leads to Early Morning Release
The nearly night-long court hearing culminated with JMIC Pankaj Verma's ruling that saw Kanchanpreet Kaur walk free from police custody. The daughter of Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Sukhwinder Kaur, who is contesting the Tarn Taran by-election, had been arrested by Tarn Taran police on Friday when she appeared at the Majitha police station in Amritsar to participate in an investigation concerning a case registered against her.
Following her release, Kanchanpreet Kaur immediately characterized the outcome as a major victory against political suppression. She openly accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of registering false cases specifically to suppress Akali leaders and workers, claiming the legal system had ultimately delivered justice.
Political Fallout and Election Plans
The political implications of the release became immediately apparent when Akali leader Virsa Singh Valtoha made a significant announcement regarding Kanchanpreet Kaur's political future. Though not officially a SAD member, Valtoha revealed that the party leadership had convened to facilitate her candidacy in the upcoming Jila Parishad elections from the Kasel constituency.
The Shiromani Akali Dal wasted no time in capitalizing on the legal victory, taking to social media platform X to proclaim: Dictator Bhagwant Mann has been defeated. The party's post characterized the court's decision as a slap in the face of the AAP government, accusing it of filing false cases against political opponents as part of a vendetta-driven strategy.
Legal Battle and Political Accusations
The SAD specifically praised advocate Arshdeep Singh Khaira and other Akali leaders for fighting throughout the night to secure Kanchanpreet Kaur's release. The party's statement emphasized that the all-night hearing and subsequent 4 a.m. release order demonstrated the strength of their legal strategy and the weakness of the government's case.
This incident has further intensified the ongoing political rivalry between the Akali Dal and the ruling AAP government in Punjab, with both sides using the development to bolster their respective narratives about political victimization and judicial independence.
The timing of the release, coming just before important local elections, adds another layer of significance to the event, potentially influencing voter perceptions in the ongoing political contests in the region.
