Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is pictured in his office in a file photo from Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: File
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Friday (January 23, 2026) registered a first information report against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel of the Khalistani activist group Sikhs for Justice and a designated terrorist, for allegedly issuing threats to create unrest and disrupt peace in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations.
According to the police, the case was registered after Mr. Pannun released a video on his social media pages in which he allegedly threatened to disturb peace in Delhi. In the video, he claimed that his “sleeper cells” had pasted pro-Khalistani posters in various parts of the city, including Rohini and Dabri.
Senior police officers said the video was circulated widely on social media platforms and was aimed at spreading fear among the public and provoking disharmony. “The content of the video is provocative in nature and poses a threat to public order, especially in view of the heightened security arrangements ahead of January 26,” an officer said.
On searching the locations mentioned, teams of the Special Cell and local police found no suspicious elements. No pro-Khalistan posters or related material were found during the verification drive, the police said.
The case has been registered under Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony), 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police said.
“The claims made by Mr. Pannun regarding posters being put up in Rohini and Dabri have not been substantiated so far. Despite extensive checks and coordination with local police stations, no such posters have been recovered,” the officer added.
The Special Cell said further investigation was under way to assess the intent, reach and potential impact of the video, and that additional legal action would be taken based on the findings. Security agencies have also stepped up vigil across the capital ahead of Republic Day celebrations, with the police maintaining that any attempt to disrupt peace would be dealt with strictly under the law.
Published – January 23, 2026 07:44 pm IST
