A local court here today acquitted a sect leader and 22 others in a case registered against them in Punjab in 2001 for hurting the sentiments of a community.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (Ambala) A K Jain ordered the acquittal of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala and 22 of his followers due to insufficient evidence.
On the complaint of a police inspector of Punjab, a case was registered against Bhaniarawala and his followers in Noorpurbedi under Section 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 295A (maliciously insulting the religion or the religious beliefs of any class) and 501 (printing or engraving matter knowing it to be defamatory).
Bhaniarawala later filed a petition with Punjab and Haryana High Court pleading to transfer his case outside Punjab state.
On September 24, 2003 an unidentified person had stabbed Bhaniarawala outside the court complex in Ambala, following which security of the sect leader was enhanced.
