SAD leader Arshdeep Singh Kler appeared before Punjab Police on Sunday to record his statement in the leaked audio clip case. The clip allegedly features a conversation between Patiala SSP Varun Sharma and other officers about blocking opposition candidates from reaching the nomination centre ahead of the December 14 Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
Kler met ADGP (Law and Order) SPS Parmar in Chandigarh. After the appearance, he told reporters that the Shiromani Akali Dal wants a fair investigation so that the truth reaches the public. Earlier, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused senior Patiala officers of acting at the behest of the ruling AAP and conspiring to stop rival candidates.
Badal had shared the audio on X on December 4. Patiala Police rejected the allegations and called the clip a fake, AI-generated recording created to mislead citizens and disturb law and order. The police registered an FIR at the Patiala Cybercrime Police Station.
Kler had also filed a complaint with the State Election Commission, demanding the suspension of officers named in the alleged conference call. Police summoned Kler after noting that he appeared to possess the original digital clip needed for the investigation.
