Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Tarn Taran MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal on Saturday supported his social gathering employee Harpreet Singh, who was arrested for “illegally” chopping bushes of the forest division.

The MLA additionally reportedly threatened Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ranjit Singh Dhillon of switch to an unimportant submit, moreover issuing a warning to the Punjab Police to not take “such actions in future”.

Harpreet, who runs a motorbike company in Tarn Taran, was amongst 13 individuals booked underneath Section 379 (theft) of the IPC and Section 33 of the Indian Forest Act on September 18. The case was registered after a video through which round a dozen individuals have been seen chopping the bushes alongside the Tarn Taran-Chabhal highway. The purported video additionally confirmed some fallen bushes mendacity in a trolley. As per the primary data report (FIR), the accused had minimize three huge bushes.

On Saturday, AAP staff protested outdoors Tarn Taran metropolis police station and demanded the quashing of the FIR towards Harpreet. The MLA additionally reached the protest website and appeased the protester promising them that the case can be quashed. The protesters claimed that the bushes have been being minimize after getting permission from the forest division.

“It has been brought to my attention that police have lodged an illegal case against our ward in-charge Harpreet Singh. When I inquired from the party volunteers, they told me that no one wanted to register the case, but it happened only due to the SSP’s arrogance. I warn the police administration that no such action should be taken in the future,” he said.

The MLA said no political pressure will be exerted if the police will do their duty honestly, but it will not be tolerated if anything wrong happens with anyone. “We will also transfer that officer (SSP) telling him how he is doing this?” the MLA mentioned in an obvious threatening tone.

The MLA mentioned he had already requested CM Bhagwant Mann to switch the SSP whose working will not be passable. He mentioned, “There was no complainant within the case, which was registered on the behest of the SSP, who’s holding a type of grudge towards me for elevating a banner towards him. The forest division had not taken any motion, however the police intentionally implicated our volunteer.”

“It is now my responsibility to quash the case if it is illegal. I have also talked to the deputy superintendent of police (DSP-city) Jaspal Singh and he has assured me that the case will be revoked,” he said.

The DSP said he has asked the protesters to submit their complaint and action will be taken as per the investigation of the complaint.

A police official said when the case was being registered, the MLA had asked the SSP not to book Harpreet, but to no avail.

“We had also called the forest officers concerned to come on the spot and take action, but no one attended the calls. It seems the trees were being cut in collusion with the forest officers,” he added. The SSP refused to make any touch upon the of the MLA.