Police File Case Against Gurpatwant Pannun Over ‘Sleeper Cell’ Claim Ahead of Republic Day

Delhi Police’s Special Cell has registered a first information report (FIR) against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for allegedly threatening unrest in the national capital ahead of Republic Day, officials said on Friday.

The case has been filed under Sections 196 (promoting enmity), 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

According to officials, Pannun, a US-based individual, recently released a video on social media claiming that “sleeper cells” had pasted pro-Khalistan posters in the Rohini and Dabri areas of Delhi. However, police said no such posters were found at the locations mentioned.

In the video, Pannun also allegedly used abusive slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video could not be independently verified.

Officials said Pannun had announced a reward of $111,000 for preventing the Prime Minister from hoisting the national flag on January 26 and for placing Khalistan flags on railway tracks in Punjab, among other acts.

“An FIR has been registered and the matter is under investigation. We are verifying all claims made in the video and closely monitoring online platforms,” a senior police officer said.

The development comes as Delhi Police has stepped up security arrangements for the 77th Republic Day celebrations following multiple terror-related threat inputs from intelligence agencies. A multi-layered security cordon involving Delhi Police and paramilitary forces has been deployed across Kartavya Path and the entire New Delhi district.

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