A local court in Mansa, Punjab, has issued a strong warning to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, asking him to appear personally at the next hearing in an ongoing complaint case or face cancellation of his bail.
The order was passed on Tuesday (April 28) by the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajinder Singh Nagpal while hearing the case titled Nazar Singh Manshahia vs. Bhagwant Mann & Others. The court stated that the accused had again sought exemption from personal appearance, citing an important meeting in Chandigarh.
The court mentioned that the Punjab Chief Minister has not appeared even once since October 20, 2022, which has delayed the progress of the case. It also stated that an earlier request to appear through video conferencing had already been rejected, and the accused was directed to remain physically present before the court.
The order stated that an application seeking exemption from personal appearance was filed again on the ground of an official meeting in Chandigarh. However, the court noted that repeated exemption requests on similar and vague grounds reflected the accused’s conduct and attitude towards court proceedings, especially when earlier directions for physical appearance had been clearly issued.
While expressing concern over what it described as a “casual approach” towards judicial proceedings, the court granted exemption for the day but issued a clear warning to the accused.
The court directed the defence counsel to ensure Mann’s presence on the next date of hearing, failing which his bail would be cancelled and coercive steps would be taken to secure his appearance before the court.
The court also recorded that several co-accused in the case have already obtained relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while proceedings against one accused have been closed following his death.
Additionally, an application filed under Section 273 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, seeking permission for representation through counsel, has been placed on record. The court has asked that a reply to the application be filed by May 1, 2026.
Also read: Mann to meet Murmu on May 5 over AAP MPs’ merger with BJP
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