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On Tuesday, a local court in Chandigarh fixed April 12, 2022 to record preliminary evidence in a defamation plea filed against Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

A senior police officer on Friday had moved a criminal defamation plea against Punjab Congress president Sidhu for his comments on police personnel.

The plea was moved by Chandigarh Police DSP Dilsher Singh Chandel through advocate Dr Surya Parkash in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Aman Inder Singh in District Courts, Sector 43.

Previously, DSP Chandel had filed a defamation notice against Sidhu seeking a public apology for his comments on December 27 last year. Chandel joined Chandigarh police as an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in 1989 and is attached with Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) of Chandigarh police.

According to media reports advocate Dr. Surya Parkash has stated that, “We moved a criminal defamation plea against Sidhu as he did not tender an unconditional apology for his comments upon the notice. His comments demoralized not even the police personnel but also the personnel of defense services. The matter will come up for the hearing on Monday.”

In the plea, DSP Chandel has contended that, “Four copies of the notice were sent on the (alternative addresses) of Navjot Singh Sidhu. Two of them have been returned “unclaimed” with note on the said legal notices, “Navjot Singh Sidhu is not here, please don’t send” and two have been served upon the Respondent/Accused.”

Sidhu was addressing a political rally in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district on December 18 in which he bragged about Congress MLA Navtej Singh Cheema. He had said that, “Navtej was so strong that he could make a police officer wet in his pants and that party workers should be like Navtej.” 

[Case Title – Disher Singh Chandel v. Navjot Singh Sidhu]