Punjab's ruling party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), today categorically denied any proposal for the premature release of convicts in the Jaswant Singh Khalra murder case. Spokesperson Baltej Pannu stated that neither the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann nor the Governor has received a file seeking early release, countering media reports that suggested otherwise.

Background of the Case

Jaswant Singh Khalra, a noted human‑rights activist, was abducted and killed by Punjab police in 1995. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case in 1999, leading to the conviction of eight individuals in 2012. Four of the convicted have since died, while the remaining four—Jaspal Singh, Satnam Singh, Surinder Singh and Jasbir Singh—are either out on bail or in custody for other matters.

AAP's Denial

Pannu explained that any request for early release in a CBI‑investigated case falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), not the state government. He noted that Jaspal Singh first approached the MHA in 2017; the ministry rejected the request in 2018, and the Governor also turned it down that year. A second petition, prompted by the DGP’s office in 2019, was again dismissed by the MHA in March 2023, and a further referral in October 2023 has yet to receive any concurrence.

Political Implications

The AAP accused the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of spreading misinformation to tarnish the government's image. SAD leaders had previously pledged to set up a Truth Commission for Khalra’s case, but according to Pannu, the party failed to deliver on that promise after forming the state government in 1997.

Central Government Involvement

Pannu also referenced the removal of the film “Satluj”—based on Khalra’s life—from an OTT platform, alleging that the BJP‑led central government ordered its takedown to suppress uncomfortable facts about Punjab’s troubled past. This claim underscores the broader narrative of political forces attempting to rewrite history.

According to AAP’s fact sheet, eight persons were convicted in the Khalra murder case; four have died. The surviving convicts—Jaspal Singh, Satnam Singh, Surinder Singh and Jasbir Singh—remain under varying legal restraints. Since no file has been returned from the MHA, there is no document before the Punjab government or the Governor for the Chief Minister to sign, rendering the allegation of a premature‑release order completely false.