A special court in Ludhiana has acquitted an accused in a 16-year-old case registered under the UAPA and Explosive Substances Act at the Machhiwara police station.
The judgment was pronounced by Special Judge Saru Mehta Kaushik in a case registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Sections 17, 18, and 20 of the UAPA on July 23, 2010.
The court acquitted Charanjit Singh alias Patialvi, a resident of Boota Singh Wala village in SAS Nagar (Mohali) district, giving him the benefit of doubt after examining the evidence and circumstances placed on record during the trial.
The case had remained in the spotlight for years because the accused was earlier declared a proclaimed offender. The Anti-Gangster Task Force arrested him in April 2022, claiming that the accused was living in a gurdwara disguised as a granthi to evade arrest.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had also denied him bail and directed the expeditious disposal of the trial.
Notably, another accused in the same case, Gurmel Singh alias Boba from the same village, was already convicted in 2012. On March 7, 2012, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Gulzar sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment under the Explosive Substances Act.
According to the prosecution, the case pertained to alleged unlawful and terrorist activities and involved offences under the stringent provisions of the UAPA. The matter was investigated by the police after the FIR was registered at the Machhiwara police station in Ludhiana district in 2010.
During arguments, the defence counsel challenged the prosecution’s version and raised questions about the evidence against the accused. After hearing both sides and examining the material on record, the special court acquitted Charanjit Singh.
The defence in the case was conducted by Advocates Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, Anand Kumar, Manjot Singh Deol, and Arshjot Singh.
