The Delhi Police Special Cell has booked Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for allegedly issuing threats aimed at disturbing public order and national unity ahead of Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
According to police officials, the FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups), Section 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration), Section 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy).
The case stems from a video released by Pannun on social media platforms, in which he claimed that pro-Khalistan posters had been pasted in the Rohini and Dabri areas of Delhi by SFJ “sleeper cells.” In the video, Pannun allegedly attempted to project the presence of an underground Khalistani network operating within the national capital.
However, following verification, Delhi Police stated that no such posters were found at the locations mentioned in the video. ANI quoted officials as saying that ground checks were conducted immediately after the claims surfaced, but nothing incriminating was recovered.
According to police and multiple media reports, Pannun had also announced a reward of USD 111,000 for anyone who could prevent the Prime Minister from hoisting the national flag on Republic Day. He allegedly called for the placing of Khalistan flags on railway tracks in Punjab and other acts of disruption, raising serious security concerns.
Some reports further claim that Pannun alleged pro-Khalistani slogans were spray-painted on the walls of certain schools and that he used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the video. However, News18 noted that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the video or these specific claims.
Confirming the registration of the case, a senior police officer said that the matter is under active investigation.
“An FIR has been registered, and the matter is being investigated. We are verifying all claims made in the video and monitoring online platforms closely,” the officer stated.
The development comes at a time when Delhi Police have significantly stepped up security arrangements for the 77th Republic Day celebrations, following multiple terror-related threat inputs from intelligence agencies.
A multi-layered security setup has been put in place around Kartavya Path and across the New Delhi district, involving Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces. The entire area is under constant surveillance through an extensive network of CCTV cameras integrated with an advanced Facial Recognition System (FRS).
Approximately 10,000 police personnel will be deployed on Republic Day, with authorities conducting nine rounds of ground-level briefings and rehearsals. Anti-drone systems have also been activated for aerial surveillance, while sniper teams have been positioned atop high-rise buildings to counter any potential threat.
Additional Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, Devesh Kumar Mahala, told ANI,
“Republic Day is celebrated at a fixed venue on Kartavya Path, and standard security protocols are strictly followed. Around 10,000 police personnel will be on duty, and multiple briefings and rehearsals have already been conducted.”
With Republic Day just days away, security agencies remain on high alert, closely monitoring both physical locations and digital platforms to prevent any attempt at disruption.
