Supreme Court grants protection to Punjab MLA Simarjit Singh Bains for a week, however expresses displeasure over his behaviour

Read Time: 05 minutes

A Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and consisting of Justices Bopanna and Hima Kohli today restrained the State of Punjab from arresting MLA and Lok Insaf Party leader Simarjit Singh Bains for a further period of one week.

When the hearing for the matter commenced, the CJI remarked, “We have seen Bains’ activities. He is harassing the people. Is it the way he has to behave?” Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi, however submitted that Bains is innocent and he is being victimised in the case.

The CJI then called for the Advocate General of Punjab D.S.Patwalia to appear in the matter.

When Patwalia appeared, CJI remarked "What is happening in Punjab?  How many cases have you filed against that lady? He wants bail and he wants the lady to go to jail.”

Patwalia subsequently submitted that he will look into this and it is the duty of the state to protect the citizens.

Rohatgi argued that the cases filed against Gurdip Kaur were by people whom she had cheated by running a job racket and were not filed by Bains.

The Court, on hearing the parties, stayed all proceedings against Kaur and asked the state to file a counter in one week. The Court further asked the state to restrain from arresting Bains for a week.

On the last date of hearing Supreme Court restrained the State of Punjab from arresting MLA Simarjit Singh Bains till Thursday. The court did so as the woman who alleged that she was raped by Bains, appeared through her lawyer and informed the court that she has filed a writ petition as well.

The bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna, Hima Kohli, on hearing the parties decided to list both cases together. When the hearing for the matter commenced, Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Bains submitted that this was “a fake and a bogus complaint by a lady and that his petition for quashing the complaint is pending in the High Court”.

Adv. Gagan Gupta, appearing for the alleged victim, submitted that his client is being harassed continuously and 4 FIRs have been filed against her. He further submitted that the witnesses are also being threatened continuously. Gupta submitted that he has filed a writ petition pertaining to the same subject matter and the Court may hear that petition before passing any order of bail.

Cause Title: Simarjit Singh Bains vs State of Punjab