The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to submit a detailed reply by March 28, 2025, over the delay in registering a First Information Report (FIR) in the case involving Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, who has alleged assaulted by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala.

Colonel Bath, a senior Army officer serving in a sensitive post under the Cabinet Secretariat, filed a petition demanding that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent agency, citing a lack of impartiality and delay by the Punjab Police.

Court seeks answers on police inaction

A bench led by Justice Sandeep Moudgil sought explanations from the Punjab government on several fronts:

The name of the officer who was initially informed by Colonel Bath and reasons for the refusal to take immediate action.

Justification for the eight-day delay in lodging an FIR, despite a medico-legal report and a detailed statement dated March 14, 2025, being available.

Clarification on why an FIR filed on March 15, based on a dhaba owner’s complaint, was registered against the colonel and his son, while the actual incident was ignored.

The court noted that such delays and attempts to shield police officers could severely damage public trust in law enforcement. It remarked, “Such lapses, if substantiated, do erase the faith of citizens in the law-enforcing agency.”

Colonel Bath’s allegations

According to his plea, Colonel Bath and his son were allegedly attacked by 12 Punjab Police personnel, including four inspector-rank officers, over a parking dispute in Patiala on the night of March 13–14, 2025. He claimed that they were assaulted without provocation and his official ID card and mobile phone were seized.

Then he was also threatened with a fake encounter. However, the incident occurred in public view and under CCTV surveillance. The colonel also expressed concerns over the risk of national security breaches due to sensitive information stored on his mobile device.

A fresh FIR was registered based on Colonel Bath’s statement a week after the incident. In this case, all 12 accused police personnel have been suspended, and departmental proceedings are underway. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently probing the case. Colonel Bath’s petition stressed that a fair investigation was not possible under the current setup due to conflict of interest, delays, and manipulation, requesting that the probe be handed over to a neutral body.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asserted that communal harmony has prevailed in the state under the BJP government, claiming that “Muslims are safe if Hindus are safe”. In an interview with a media agency, the Chief Minister said no communal riots have occurred in the state since 2017 when the BJP came to power.

Emphasising mutual safety and religious coexistence

Highlighting the notion of religious tolerance among Hindus, Yogi Adityanath remarked that a Muslim family can live securely among 100 Hindu families and practice their faith freely. However, he questioned whether the reverse would be equally safe in Muslim-majority areas, citing examples from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

“In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe,” he stated, recalling that earlier riots impacted both communities. He added, “After 2017, the riots stopped.”

Sanatan Dharma and historical perspective

Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Mahant of Gorakhnath Temple, described Sanatan Dharma as the world’s oldest religion. He said Hindu rulers in history never imposed their beliefs on others, and followers of Sanatan Dharma have never converted others by force.

“There is no example in the world where Hindu rulers used their power to dominate others,” he claimed.

Criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Congress policies

Taking a sharp dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath referred to him as a “specimen”, stating that such figures benefit the BJP politically. He criticised Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling it a “Bharat Todo Abhiyan”, and alleged that the Congress party had prolonged the Ayodhya dispute deliberately.

He further questioned why the Congress failed to abolish triple talaq or promote cultural events like Kumbh with pride, and why it couldn’t deliver world-class infrastructure.

Remarks on disputed religious sites and legal battles

On matters concerning disputed religious sites, such as the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal and the Mathura mosque, Adityanath said the state government is abiding by court rulings. However, he also hinted that the situation could have escalated if not for legal restraints.

“Scientific evidence is there, and as more comes forward, we will revive temples. We will show the world where they are,” he said.

He also cited Islamic teachings, questioning the legitimacy of religious structures allegedly built upon demolished temples, adding, “Islam says such places are not accepted by God. Then why were they built?”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed that the state government is acting strictly within the legal boundaries regarding ongoing land and religious site disputes in Mathura and Sambhal. Responding to criticisms over recent government actions, including the controversial “bulldozer” drives, he stressed that the administration is adhering to court directions.

Speaking on the Mathura religious site issue, Adityanath emphasized the importance of Shri Krishna’s birthplace and underlined the government’s legal compliance. “We are following the orders of the court. Or else, a lot could have happened there,” he said.

The Chief Minister also addressed the concerns surrounding the Sambhal dispute, reiterating that the state is operating through proper legal channels. He raised questions about the construction of mosques on what he described as “Hindu sites”, claiming that such acts go against Islamic teachings. “Sambhal is a truth. You have complete freedom of worship… but you have deviated from the principles of Islam,” he said, highlighting the discovery of 54 out of 64 religious sites in the area.

On the broader backlash over “bulldozer action”, Adityanath defended the state’s approach, saying, “Those who believe in justice, justice is done for them. Those who take justice and law into their own hands, they are taught a lesson in the framework of law.” He added that sometimes people need to be “explained in the language they understand”, particularly when they resort to violence.

The remarks reflect the Chief Minister’s continued commitment to his administration’s hardline policies, while maintaining that all actions are being conducted legally and in response to court directives.