The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to a man accused of sharing sensitive information related to Operation Sindoor with Pakistan, citing lack of evidence.
Justice Vinod S Bharadwaj, in an order dated April 1, observed that the prosecution failed to present any concrete material to support its allegations against the accused, Davender Singh.
Allegations Linked to Pakistan Visit and Phone Calls
Singh was arrested in May in Haryana’s Kaithal district. The prosecution claimed that he had travelled to Pakistan via the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2024 and allegedly shared information about Indian Army movements.
It further alleged that Singh had been in contact with a Pakistani individual suspected of espionage between April 18 and May 10, around the time India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
However, Singh denied the allegations, stating that his visit to Pakistan was purely for religious pilgrimage and that he remained within the gurdwara premises.
Case Based Only on Disclosure Statement
The court noted that the case against Singh was primarily based on a disclosure statement made by him in a separate Arms Act case. In that earlier case, Singh had been accused of uploading photographs of himself with weapons on social media.
His counsel argued that Singh had already been granted bail in that case and that his mobile phone had been seized by authorities. Despite this, a fresh case was registered on the same day accusing him of sharing sensitive information.
Court Questions Prosecution’s Claims
During the hearing, the court raised several key questions to the prosecution, including the basis for filing a second case when the accused’s phone was already in custody.
The judge also asked whether there was any proof that Singh had shared videos or photographs with anyone in Pakistan or whether the person he contacted was indeed an intelligence operative.
“Learned state counsel… is not in a position to refer to any specific material” showing that any data was shared, the court noted.
The prosecution also failed to clarify whether the alleged video evidence was linked to the period between the Pahalgam attack and the military operation.
Bail Granted Amid Lack of Sanction
The court further pointed out that sanction for prosecution under the Official Secrets Act had not yet been obtained.
Considering the absence of evidence and procedural gaps, the court ruled that Singh was entitled to bail.
The case highlights judicial scrutiny over serious allegations of espionage, especially when not backed by clear and verifiable evidence.
