Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday denied allegations that the Bhagwant Mann govt had approved any proposal for the premature release of convicts in human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra murder case of 1995, asserting that no such file was signed by the state govt and that the matter fell in the jurisdiction of the Union ministry of affairs (MHA).The clarification came after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) functionary Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that the Punjab govt had forwarded a remission file relating to former DSP Jaspal Singh, one of the convicts in the Khalra murder case.AAP media in-charge Baltej Pannu termed the allegations “a pack of lies” and said the proposal for premature release was first initiated during the previous Congress govt. He added that because the case was investigated by the CBI, the Punjab govt could not independently decide on remission.“The competent authority in such cases is the ministry of home affairs. No proposal is pending either with the Punjab govt or the governor,” Pannu said.He said former DSP Jaspal Singh had first sought premature release in 2017, but the MHA rejected his application in 2018. Another recommendation forwarded in 2019 was also referred to the MHA after the governor’s approval because of the CBI investigation, he added.Pannu said similar applications filed by the three other surviving convicts, Satnam Singh, Surinder Singh and Jasbir Singh, were rejected by the MHA in March 2023. “Since then, no application has been returned by the MHA to the Punjab govt,” he said.The AAP leader also accused the SAD of failing to fulfil its promise of securing justice for Khalra’s family. Citing recent remarks by Paramjit Kaur Khalra, he alleged that despite coming to power in 1997, the Akali Dal did not ensure accountability and instead rewarded several officers with higher posts.Pannu also rejected allegations that the Punjab govt had played any role in the removal of the film ‘Satluj’ from an OTT platform.
