Bilaspur: In a significant ruling, the Chhattisgarh High Court has quashed all sedition charges and related proceedings against 1994-batch IPS officer GP Singh, providing major relief to the senior police official. Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha of the Chhattisgarh High Court issued the order, dismissing the charges filed during the tenure of the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, which had accused Singh of conspiring against the government.

Previously, on April 30, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had provided relief to Singh, ordering that all cases against him be resolved within four weeks and directing his reinstatement. However, in July 2023, based on the recommendation of the state government, the Ministry of Home Affairs had enforced his compulsory retirement.

Background of the Sedition Case Against GP Singh

The sedition charges stemmed from a July 2021 raid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Singh's official residence in Police Lines, Raipur, as well as 15 other locations in Rajnandgaon and Odisha. The raids uncovered unaccounted assets worth ₹10 crore and documents that allegedly pointed to anti-government activities. This led to an FIR by the ACB, and on July 5, Singh was suspended. Three days later, on July 8, the state government filed sedition charges against him, accusing him of attempting to destabilize the government.

Following the FIR, Singh filed a petition in the High Court on July 9, 2021, seeking a CBI investigation into the allegations. However, after an extensive investigation, he was arrested in Noida on January 11, 2022, and later secured bail in May 2022. Despite this, in July 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered his compulsory retirement based on a Service Review Committee recommendation, even though Singh still had eight years of service remaining.

Court’s Observations and Ruling

Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha’s ruling emphasized the lack of evidence to substantiate the sedition allegations. The court highlighted that Singh’s arrest and the FIR did not meet the legal threshold required for a sedition case. The judgment reaffirmed the importance of following due process in matters involving sedition, a charge with serious legal implications.

Allegations and FIR Challenge

According to the allegations, sensitive documents, letters, torn pages, and a pen drive were recovered from Singh's official bungalow during the raid. These materials reportedly contained evidence of anti-government activities, forming the basis of the sedition charge. However, Singh challenged the FIR in the High Court, claiming that the case was politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his career.

The High Court’s decision to quash the proceedings offers substantial relief for GP Singh, closing a chapter in his prolonged legal battle. This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding against misuse of sedition laws and reaffirms the importance of due process in high-profile cases involving public officials. The court’s judgment is a reminder of the need for stringent adherence to legal procedures in cases that involve charges as serious as sedition.