An Amritsar court has granted bail to 69-year-old Narain Singh Chaura, who is accused of attempting to shoot former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Golden Temple in December 2024.
Chaura was booked under Sections 109 (abetment of an offense, including attempted murder) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, in addition to Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.
The court directed him to furnish bail bonds worth Rs 1 lakh along with a surety of the same amount.
According to the prosecution, the alleged attack took place near Ghanta Ghar, a prominent area outside the Golden Temple, where Badal was performing a religious punishment mandated by the Akal Takht.
As security personnel intervened to restrain Chaura, a gunshot was fired into the air during the scuffle, though no injuries were reported.
Chaura’s legal team, consisting of advocates Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, Baljinder Singh Bajwa, and J S Randhawa, argued that he had been falsely implicated in the case.
They emphasised that Chaura had already spent over three and a half months in custody and pointed out that the trial's conclusion was expected to take a considerable amount of time.
Also Read: Sukhbir Badal pens heartfelt post for ASIs who saved him
The defense also highlighted that the police had yet to record Sukhbir Singh Badal’s statement, a delay they claimed cast doubts on the prosecution’s case.
Opposing the bail plea, Additional Public Prosecutor Seema Sandhu stressed the gravity of the charges against Chaura. However, the court took into account that the case did not involve any injuries and acknowledged that the trial process was likely to be prolonged.
The judge also noted that key elements of the investigation, including forensic reports and CCTV footage analysis, were still pending.
Granting bail, Additional Sessions Judge Sumit Ghai imposed several conditions on Chaura. He was strictly prohibited from attempting to influence witnesses, barred from leaving the country without prior permission, and required to be present for all court hearings.
The court further clarified that its observations in the bail order would not impact the final outcome of the trial.
Also Read: Sukhbir Badal completes 10-day penance
Follow us
