A petition has been filed in a Bathinda court seeking directions to register a criminal case against former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal over alleged controversial remarks made by her in a recent video interview.
The plea has been filed by Bathinda-based social activist and former Market Committee chairman Mohan Lal Jhumba, a close aide of senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.
Jhumba had earlier approached the local police in January seeking action in the same matter. After no FIR was registered, he has moved the court requesting directions to the police to initiate criminal proceedings.
According to the petition, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal allegedly stated in a video that during her tenure as Chief Minister, senior officers and political leaders had suggested orchestrating bomb blasts and riots for electoral gains. The petitioner has claimed the remarks are provocative and capable of disturbing public peace and trust in political institutions.
The counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Sanjeev Gupta, argued that the statements could create fear and social instability and therefore warrant registration of a case.
The matter will come up for hearing before the court on July 18.
