Providing relief to cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Patna High Court has quashed a case alleging a violation of the model code of conduct against him during the 2019 general elections.
Navjot Singh Sidhu had challenged the order of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Katihar district, dated October 12, 2020, which had taken cognizance of an FIR registered against him at Barsoi police station during the previous Lok Sabha polls.
The charges in the case were filed under various sections of the IPC and the Representation of the People Act, concerning a speech delivered by Navjot Singh Sidhu at an election rally.
In a judgment dated December 19, Justice Sandeep Kumar concluded that the impugned order from the lower court was issued “mechanically,” and the petitioner had been summoned “without application of mind.”
“Accordingly, the application is allowed. Consequently, the cognizance order… and the entire prosecution of the petitioner are hereby quashed,” ruled the court.