The Punjab government has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it will cancel the criminal case registered against former Rajya Sabha MP and prominent Punjabi media baron, Barjinder Singh Hamdard. The case was related to alleged financial irregularities in the construction of the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial in Kartarpur.
The Case and Allegations
In May 2024, the State Vigilance Bureau filed an FIR against Hamdard, who is the managing editor of a leading Punjabi daily, along with IAS officer Vinay Bublani and others. The allegations stated that the accused caused a financial loss of over Rs 27.23 crore to the state exchequer. This was purportedly done by overpaying contractors for the execution of the 25-acre memorial project, built to honour the sacrifices of the Punjabi community during India's independence movement. The memorial was completed in 2018.
Government's Submission in Court
During a hearing on December 2, the state counsel, on instructions from DSP Vigilance Ashwani Kumar, submitted that the investigating agency is preparing a cancellation report for the FIR. Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya recorded this submission in his order while disposing of the plea filed by Hamdard and others challenging the case. The court was informed that the cancellation report would be presented within four weeks.
The FIR was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 420 (cheating), and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Allegations of Political Pressure on Media
In his petition to the High Court, Barjinder Singh Hamdard presented a starkly different narrative. He claimed that he was dragged into this controversy with the sole objective of pressuring him to follow the dictates of the present AAP government in Punjab. The alleged goal was to ensure the publication of favourable paid news or advertisements, projected as news articles, in his newspaper.
The petition emphatically stated that Hamdard and his publication are not prepared to compromise on principles of journalism and professional ethics. It argued that the freedom of the press, a bedrock of democracy, was under threat. Hamdard alleged that the state government adopted a "very clever ploy" to pressure media houses into publishing news favourable to them and suppressing critical reports.
Highlighting his credentials, the plea mentioned that former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had entrusted him with a role in the memorial foundation due to his stature and impeccable reputation in journalism and literature. The petition accused the AAP government of targeting Hamdard to settle personal scores through a "roving and fishing enquiry." Hamdard had also sought a CBI probe into the entire matter to ensure an impartial investigation.
The court's order, based on the government's submission, brings a provisional end to this high-profile legal battle, which had raised significant questions about financial governance in public projects and the independence of the media from political pressure.
