In an affidavit filed in the High Court, Shergill stated that since Sumedh Singh Saini, the present Vigilance Director was once the SSP of Chandigarh Police, he would not feel secure with either police force.

Shergill further stated: “By appointing Saini as the vigilance chief, the incumbent government is intimidating its political adversaries, lawyers, journalists, social activists and others who want to speak out against being wronged and fight for the protection of fundamental rights.”

Shergill, who is representing a Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Amritsar unit leader on the issue of alleged fake membership of the SAD party, told the court that after notices were served to the UT SSP, an additional SHO of Sector 17 police station had come to his residence and warned him against portraying Saini in a bad light.

“Inder Singh (the Additional SHO) spoke to me for about ten minutes. Towards the end of the conversation, he asked me why I have mentioned Saini in a negative way in the court. The police officer further went on to say that Saini sahib was a great man and was his God,” Shergill added.

He further alleged that after this episode, he told the UT SSP, SS Srivastava, on February 6 that officers loyal to Saini should not be deputed for his security, but the SSP areplied him that he should not ask Chandigarh Police for protection and rather apply for an arms license.