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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The Punjab police force has constituted a special team to arrest Sikh separatist Jagjit Singh Chauhan the moment he lands in New Delhi.
According to top officers of the force, a case of sedition is pending against Chauhan at Anandpur Sahib. "This is a 20-year-old case when he started transmission of Radio Khalistan from Anandpur Sahib. The case is not time-barred, but he will have to be bailed out soon after his arrest," a senior Punjab police officer told rediff.com on Friday.
According to sources, Chauhan is aware of the case and that is why he had sought anticipatory bail from the Punjab and Haryana high court.
After his petition was rejected, the Union home and external affairs ministries have swung into action to find out if Chauhan is still an Indian citizen or holds travel documents of another country.
While rejecting the bail petition, Justice M S Gill had directed the Government of India to hold an inquiry after Chauhan's return to ascertain if he remains an Indian citizen.
On May 29, the high court had allowed Chauhan to return to India and directed the government to provide him valid travel documents within one month.
Subsequently Chauhan's advocate had moved another petition seeking anticipatory bail on the ground that his client might be arrested on returning to India.
Meanwhile, intelligence sources confirmed that Chauhan's name still figures in the list of 'unwanted' people. A top Intelligence Bureau officer said this was the position on June 13, the day the high court turned down Chauhan's bail application.
As per a directive of the Union home ministry, anyone whose names figures in this list is not allowed to set foot on Indian soil and is immediately deported to the place from where he began his journey.
But according to some other officials, after the high court verdict allowing Chauhan to return to India, the home ministry may issue fresh orders in this regard.
"In the absence of a stay from the apex court, we can do little but allow Chauhan to land in India. We have no case against him in Delhi. We don't know what the Punjab police has in mind," said a Delhi police officer.
All international airports in the country have been alerted about Chauhan's imminent return and told to report to the Centre as soon as they learn of his flight details.
Chauhan had earlier indicated that he would like to return to the country of his birth in mid-June. But now it seems he has postponed his visit by another fortnight. This is to enable his advocate to move another petition before the Punjab and Haryana high court along with the original travel documents he has sent from London.
Top officers of the Punjab police refused to answer any questions about Chauhan. 'Please direct your questions to Director General Sarabjit Singh,' was the stock reply.
EARLIER REPORTS: Jagjit Singh Chauhan's bail plea rejected Chauhan to continue advocating Khalistan
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