Patiala, Punjab (February 06, 2013): It is learnt that a local court in Patiala (Punjab) has sentenced Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under an Explosive Act case.
It is notable that Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana is facing death sentence in Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case and is currently lodged in Central Jail, Patiala.
It is learnt that on February 06, 2013 (Wednesday) the Additional session judge (Patiala) Sanjeev Beri sentenced Bhai Rajoana in a case registered in 1995 at Rajpura under Explosives Act.
It is further learnt that the court has fixed February 16, 2013 as next date of hearing in another case registered against him under the Arms Act.
As per media reports the Punjab police had arrested Bhai Rajoana in 1995. The police had claimed to recover around 80 kgs of RDX at Rajpura in Patiala district following which a case was registered against him.
It is notable that execution of death sentence awarded to Bhai Balwant Singh was scheduled for March 31 last year. There was strong resentment to the decision of execution of Bhai Rajoana and on March 28, 2012 the home ministry stayed his execution following review petition filed before President of India by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC).
As Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana has already spent approximately 17 years in prison, sentence of 10 years awarded by Patiala court shall be set-off against the time already spent by him in Jail.