Punjab and Haryana High Court Upholds Acquittal in Sedition Case
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the acquittal of four individuals involved in a 2017 protest following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The court ruled that sloganeering against the government does not constitute grounds for sedition charges. The FIR, filed on August 25, 2017, included charges under sections 124-A (sedition) and 188 (disobedience of a lawful order) of the Indian Penal Code. The High Court noted that the prosecution failed to establish the necessary legal elements for the charges, citing issues such as inconsistent investigation and lack of reliable identification of the accused. The trial court's acquittal, originally issued on September 23, 2019, was affirmed by the High Court, which dismissed the appeal from Haryana authorities on July 2.
Published 2 hours ago • 15 Jul 2026, 06:58 PM IST