A Chandigarh court has directed the prosecution to submit a status report on any pending investigation in the Kotkapura firing case by July 18, 2026.
The direction comes in the wake of an order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 9, 2026, transferring the trials related to the Kotkapura firing and damage-to-property cases from Faridkot to the Sessions Court in Chandigarh. The cases pertain to FIRs registered on August 7, 2018, and October 14, 2015.
In its order, the court noted that a review of the case file revealed that on November 21, 2023, the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Faridkot, had sought a status report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) regarding any pending investigation. On the next hearing, held on December 2, 2023, it was recorded that a status report relating to further investigation had been received in a sealed cover and ordered to be kept separately.
However, the court observed that no comprehensive status report regarding further investigation was subsequently placed on record, a fact reflected in the order dated December 22, 2023, as well as in subsequent proceedings.
The court further noted that another status report was received from the SIT on January 23, 2024. Thereafter, the matter remained pending while applications filed by the accused were being considered. On March 2, 2024, a supplementary challan was submitted and ordered to be clubbed with the main challan. The case again remained pending while awaiting a status report from the SIT.
According to the court, the file also shows that proceedings were later delayed pending the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision on the transfer of the case to Chandigarh.
The court observed that despite repeated directions, the investigating agency had not submitted a clear status report regarding any pending investigation. Consequently, the prosecution has now been directed to place the report on record positively on July 18, 2026.
The Kotkapura police firing incident took place on October 14, 2015, in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents reported at gurdwaras in Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala villages in June and September 2015. Police allegedly opened fire on protesters who were demonstrating against the sacrilege incidents.
While the simultaneous police firing at Behbal Kalan resulted in the deaths of two persons, the Kotkapura firing left several protesters injured.
Among those named as accused in the case are former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini, and senior police officer Paramraj Singh Umranangal, along with several other police officials.
