Independent Journalists Commission of Inquiry finds no evidence of abetment against Lok Awaaz TV Journalist, seeks FIR withdrawal

IJCI Says FIR Against Lok Awaz TV Journalist Lacks Basis, Seeks Withdrawal

Babushahi Bureau

Chandigarh, September 26, 2026: The three-member Independent Journalists Commission of Inquiry (IJCI), headed by retired Justice Ranjit Singh Randhawa, has released its inquiry report into the FIR registered by Muktsar Police against Lok Awaz TV journalist Maninderjit Singh Sidhu, questioning the basis of the allegations and recommending that the case be withdrawn or otherwise brought to an end.

The commission, comprising retired Justice R.S. Randhawa, Dr H.S. Walia and Advocate T.P.S. Tung, examined the circumstances surrounding the FIR registered against Sidhu under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to abetment of suicide.

According to the IJCI report, the material examined by it did not establish the ingredients of abetment that would make Sidhu responsible for the death of the person named in the case.

The commission said abetment can involve instigation, conspiracy or intentional assistance, but maintained that there was no material showing that Sidhu had helped, encouraged or instigated the deceased to commit suicide or any other unlawful act.

Journalist’s Report on Drug Sale in Village

The inquiry report said Sidhu had visited Khuddian village in Muktsar district on August 16, 2026, to report on allegations concerning the sale and use of narcotics. The village is the native place of Punjab Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.

According to the commission, local residents spoke on camera during the journalist’s visit and showed used syringes lying at a local dharamsala. The report was subsequently broadcast by Lok Awaz TV on August 17 through its YouTube and Facebook platforms, with disclaimers accompanying the report.

The commission said the journalist was performing his professional duties by reporting on an issue of public interest and alleged that the subsequent FIR was linked to his reporting.

Death of Local Youth and FIR Against Journalist

The report said that shortly after the broadcast, a local youth, identified as Sukhjinder Singh alias Shinda, died. His father, Sarvjit Singh, subsequently gave a statement that became the basis for the FIR against Sidhu and five others.

According to the version examined by the commission, the complaint alleged that the deceased had taken his own life after being falsely accused of involvement in drug sales.

However, the IJCI questioned the evidentiary basis for determining the cause of death. The commission said no post-mortem examination was conducted, no suicide note was recovered and there was no medical evidence before it conclusively establishing whether the death was a suicide or resulted from another cause, including a possible drug overdose.

The commission further noted that the deceased was cremated within hours of his death.

Journalists’ Sting Operation Cited by Commission

The IJCI report also referred to a separate investigation carried out by journalists Rajinder Singh Taggar, founder-editor of Punjab Dastavez; Ashish Kumar alias Ashu Aneja; and Rajdeep Singh.

According to the commission, the journalists conducted on-camera interviews with villagers and other people in the area.

The report said the deceased’s father allegedly stated during the investigation that he had not voluntarily submitted a written complaint and that the complaint was made following directions from local political leadership, referred to in the report as “Jathedar”.

The commission further said villagers and the local sarpanch described the deceased as a drug user and alleged that he was involved in the sale of narcotics. The report also referred to another FIR allegedly registered against him at Police Station Lambi in connection with a village dispute.

The commission said the journalists also questioned the Station House Officer of Lambi about the allegations but that, according to its report, no immediate evidence establishing abetment by Sidhu was produced during the interaction.

These claims are part of the IJCI’s inquiry findings and have not been independently established by a court.

Questions Over Cause of Death

The commission also raised questions about the absence of a post-mortem and other medical evidence.

It said that without such evidence, the precise cause of the deceased’s death could not be established from the material examined by the commission. The report also referred to questions raised during the inquiry about the deceased’s alleged drug use and how he obtained narcotics despite being described as financially poor.

According to the report, a witness identified as Anega told the commission that the deceased engaged in activities to meet his own drug requirements.

IJCI Alleges Political Retaliation

The commission alleged that Sidhu was targeted because of his reporting on drug sales and use in villages and linked the FIR to what it described as political retaliation.

The IJCI said Sidhu’s report had questioned claims regarding the effectiveness of the government’s campaign against drugs and alleged that his subsequent prosecution amounted to retaliation for bringing the issue before the public.

The commission’s report also claimed that the name of a minister had emerged in connection with the alleged retaliatory action.

These are conclusions and allegations contained in the commission’s report and are not, by themselves, judicial findings of fact.

Anticipatory Bail Granted to Journalist

The IJCI also took note of the fact that a Sessions Court granted anticipatory bail to Maninderjit Singh Sidhu in the case.

The commission said the grant of anticipatory bail was another factor supporting its view that the journalist’s implication in the FIR required reconsideration.

The grant of anticipatory bail, however, does not by itself determine the guilt or innocence of an accused or conclude the criminal proceedings.

Commission Recommends Withdrawal of FIR

In its concluding observations, the IJCI said it found no material establishing that Sidhu had committed an offence of abetment. The commission described the FIR as “false” and “baseless” and alleged that it was motivated by political vendetta.

The commission recommended that the FIR be withdrawn or quashed, or that the police take appropriate steps to ensure that Sidhu does not suffer adverse consequences merely because of the registration of the case.

The IJCI also called for its findings to be made public, saying that such disclosure was necessary to discourage what it described as unlawful action against journalists and to enable media professionals to carry out their work independently and without fear.

The report emphasised that journalists should be able to investigate and report matters of public interest, particularly issues such as drug abuse and the functioning of government programmes.

The inquiry report has now been released for public information. The findings represent the conclusions of the Independent Journalists Commission of Inquiry; the criminal case and the allegations in the FIR remain subject to the applicable legal process.