SIT Summons Former Union Minister Sampla in 2015 Sacrilege Cases

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing two high-profile cases from 2015 linked to sacrilege incidents in Faridkot district has summoned former Union Minister of State and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sampla, along with two retired IAS officers. The SIT has directed them to appear in Jalandhar on June 22 for examination and recording of statements.

The notices, issued under Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), require Sampla to appear at 11 am on June 22 at the Gos Mess, PAP Complex, Jalandhar. The SIT is investigating FIR No. 129, dated October 14, 2015, registered at Bajakhana police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and mischief causing damage, as well as provisions of the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The SIT is also probing FIR No. 130, dated October 21, 2015, registered under Sections 302, 307, and 34 of the IPC and relevant provisions of the Arms Act.

The sacrilege incidents in Faridkot district during 2015 had sparked widespread outrage and communal tensions. The cases involve allegations of desecration of religious texts and subsequent violence. The SIT was constituted to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into these sensitive matters.

Vijay Kumar Sampla, a prominent BJP leader from Punjab, served as Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014 to 2019. The two retired IAS officers have also been summoned, though their names have not been disclosed in the public notices. The SIT has been gathering evidence and recording statements from various individuals connected to the cases.

The investigation aims to uncover the full sequence of events and hold accountable those responsible for the sacrilege and the ensuing violence. The summons indicate that the SIT considers Sampla's and the retired officers' testimony crucial to the probe.

The development comes as the SIT intensifies its efforts to resolve cases that have lingered for years. The examination of Sampla and the retired IAS officers is expected to provide new insights into the planning and execution of the incidents.