The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State Election Commission to get the alleged viral audio of Patiala SSP Varun Sharma examined by a neutral agency not operating under the Punjab government. The court issued the directions after hearing petitions filed by the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, and Congress seeking fair conduct of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
The court asked the Commission to ensure that all SHOs conduct the elections without pressure and investigate complaints impartially. While the court did not order a direct CFSL examination, it stressed that an independent agency should verify the audio and video material submitted by complainants.
A day before the hearing, the Punjab government sent SSP Varun Sharma on a week-long leave and assigned additional charge to Sangrur SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal. Earlier, Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal had released a recording, claiming it captured the SSP instructing officers to obstruct Akali candidates, a claim the Patiala Police dismissed as AI-generated.
