Sidhu Moosewala's father threatens to leave country, withdraw FIR in murder case
Chandigarh, Oct 30: Sidhu Moosewala's father on Sunday threatened to withdraw the FIR in his son's murder case and leave the country if the slain singer was linked with gangsters.
Giving an ultimatum to the state machinery till November 25 to hear him out, an emotional Balkaur Singh claimed that his son was killed under a well-planned conspiracy and said he was not ready to accept the allegations that the singer was killed as part of a gang rivalry.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29.
Singh said the family had been cooperating very well with the administration in probing the case, but this was perhaps considered as their "weakness".
"It has been five months (since the death of Sidhu Moosewala). We are counting days and time is passing by," he said addressing a gathering at Moosa village in Mansa.
Singh said he was against holding any dharna but wanted the officers concerned to hear his appeal. "My son was killed under a well-planned conspiracy," he claimed.
"I want to tell the government through the media that if you make my son part of gangsters, I will make things easy for you and will take back the FIR on November 25.
"I promise that I will wait for a month. I have sought time from the (Punjab) DGP to hear me out. After that, if you say, I will take back the FIR. I will leave the country even if that means I get to settle in Bangladesh," Singh said.
He said he had stopped expecting justice and sought to know why investigating agencies had not summoned the "B-team of (jailed gangster) Lawrence Bishnoi" gang yet.
The Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder.
Moosewala's father also slammed police officer Pritpal Singh for allegedly providing support to the gangsters. He has been dismissed from service.
Deepak Tinu, one of the accused in the Moosewala murder case, had escaped the Mansa police's Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) custody.
Pritpal Singh was the CIA incharge in Mansa. He was arrested on charges of helping Tinu escape the custody. But the Delhi Police arrested the gangster later.
Moosewala was killed on May 29 when he along with his friend and cousin was travelling in a jeep to Jawahar Ke village in Mansa. Six shooters waylaid his vehicle and pumped bullets into him.
Canada-based Goldy Brar, who is a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said he was behind the murder.
The Punjab Police had filed a first 1850-page chargesheet against 24 accused in a Mansa court in August.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
