INDIA: Former New Zealand Sikh community leader, Manpreet Singh, arrested by the Indian police on his arrival in New Delhi, gets produced in court on multiple charges

Record ID: 1374287

  • Title: INDIA: Former New Zealand Sikh community leader, Manpreet Singh, arrested by the Indian police on his arrival in New Delhi, gets produced in court on multiple charges
  • Date: 8th April 2013
  • Summary: SANGRUR, PUNJAB, INDIA (APRIL 08, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIORS OF JUDICIAL COURTS COMPLEX SIGN READING NAME OF THE COURT PEOPLE WALKING IN THE COURT PREMISES (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) LAWYER FOR FORMER NEW ZEALAND SIKH LEADER MANPREET SINGH, NIRPAL SINGH DHALIWAL, SAYING: "He was detained from the airport in connection to this case. His old case files have been up in the court and his trial will start again. Based on old and fresh evidences the actual revelations of the case will be known on further proceedings." BROTHER OF MANPREET SINGH, SITTING NEAR THE LAWYER (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) BROTHER OF FORMER NEW ZEALAND SIKH LEADER MANPREET SINGH, KULDEEP SINGH, SAYING: "He was arrested by police the moment he de-boarded the flight. He was brought from New Delhi to Sangrur where and was produced before a court. The court proceedings are on and we have sought the help of a lawyer. We hope that he gets acquitted in the case soon." LAWYER SITTING IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) BROTHER OF FORMER NEW ZEALAND SIKH LEADER MANPREET SINGH, KULDEEP SINGH, SAYING: "He has been receiving full support from the New Zealand government. An official from the High Commission has been appointed who was present in court today and will be there tomorrow as well." EXTERIORS OF COURT BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2013 21:37
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA6A154OTFU2F85FQPZ9Z40AH6D
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A former President of the New Zealand Sikh Society was on Monday (April 08) produced before a court in India's northern Punjab state for multiple charges including alleged involvement in seditious activities, masterminding a jailbreak and attempted murder of a prison staff about two decades ago.
    As per media reports, soon after arriving with his family from Sydney on Sunday (April 07), police arrested Manpreet Singh and was frisked away to northern town of Sangrur, where he is being held.
    More than 10 years ago, Singh was also charged under India's Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) but fled the country when he was released on bail in 1999.
    The 69-year-old Sikh leader's counsel said that old cases against Singh might be reopened during his trial.

    "He was detained from the airport in connection to this case. His old case files have been up in the court and his trial will start again. Based on old and fresh evidences the actual revelations of the case will be known on further proceedings" said Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal, Singh's counsel.
    A relative of the Sikh leader hoped that Manpreet would soon get his name cleared in several cases against him.

    "He was arrested by police the moment he de-boarded the flight. He was brought from New Delhi to Sangrur where and was produced before a court. The court proceedings are on and we have sought the help of a lawyer. We hope that he gets acquitted in the case soon," said Kuldeep Singh, brother of former New Zealand Sikh leader Manpreet Singh.
    He added that that New Zealand's High Commission in New Delhi had designated a representative to assist during court proceedings since Singh also holds a Kiwi citizenship.

    "He has been receiving full support from the New Zealand government. An official from the High Commission has been appointed who was present in court today and will be there tomorrow as well," said Kuldeep Singh.
    According to media reports New Delhi has never requested for any probe against Singh nor was the Sikh leader arrested during his previous visits to India in 2009 when he was travelling on New Zealand passport.
    A New Zealand citizen, Singh used to drive a taxi and has been living in New Zealand since 20 years, during which he was elected as the President of the Sikh Society, before moving to Australia.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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