Punjab cm gets SC notice in 2020 violent protest case

The Supreme Court issued notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on an appeal by the Chandigarh administration to revive criminal proceedings against him in a 2020 violent protest case.

The protest occurred in January 2020 outside the then CM's house against a power tariff increase, involving around 750–800 AAP party workers.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had exonerated Mann and others on November 29, 2025, ruling that the charges of unlawful assembly and rioting were not made out.

The Chandigarh administration argued that the High Court erred in holding that the mob was not an unlawful assembly, as there was no prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC.

Other accused include state ministers Aman Arora and Harpal Singh Cheema, among other AAP leaders.