SAD releases English translation of alleged police conference call on candidate obstruction; Patiala Police denies clip as fake and AI-generated.
A POLITICAL dispute escalated on Thursday after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal released what he said was the transcript of a “most sensitive conference call” involving senior Patiala Police officers ahead of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections.
The alleged conversation, shared on social media, appeared to show instructions to block opposition candidates from filing nomination papers — a charge Punjab Police has firmly rejected as “fake” and “AI-generated.”
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Badal posted translated excerpts of the purported call, including a line attributed to a senior officer that read, “Wherever Akali candidates are found, tear up their nomination papers.” He alleged the script reflected a coordinated effort to intercept candidates “in villages, at their homes, or on the way” rather than at the nomination centres.
🚨ਜਿੱਥੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਮਿਲਣ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮਜਦਗੀ ਪੱਤਰ ਪਾੜ੍ਹ ਦਿਓ: Punjab Police 🚨
ਲੋਕਤੰਤਰ ਦਾ ਘਾਣ ਕਰਕੇ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਸ਼ਦ ਅਤੇ ਬਲਾਕ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਸ਼ਰਮੀ ਨਾਲ ਲੁੱਟਣ ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀਆਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ Patiala Police ਦੀ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਰਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਈ MOST SENSITIVE Conference Call ਦੀ ਸਾਰੀ recording ਆਪ ਸਭ ਸੁਣੋ:
“ਅੱਜ Police… pic.twitter.com/5B98XBU6aY
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) December 4, 2025
English Translation of the Alleged Police Conversation (as posted by Sukhbir Singh Badal)
(Translated from Punjabi; authenticity disputed by police)
“Wherever you find Akali (SAD) candidates, tear up their nomination papers.”
“After Police Observer Kaustubh Sharma visited today, we met Divisional Commissioner Vinay Bublani. DIG Kuldeep Chahal and DC Preeti Yadav were also present. I was there, along with the SP Headquarters and SP City.” — SSP Patiala
“The administration does not object to the use of force; they are clear this is bound to happen in local body elections.” — SSP Patiala
“But their directive is that whoever needs to be targeted or stopped must be stopped outside — in their village, at home, or on the way. Once a candidate reaches the nomination centre, the papers should not be torn.” — SSP Patiala
“Tomorrow is the most sensitive day for us because Sukhbir Singh Badal may himself come to Ghanaur.” — SSP Patiala
“We are taking directions from the political leadership.” — DSP Harsimran
“The policy is the same: stop them in the village, at home, or on the way.” — SSP Patiala
“The Divisional Commissioner, DIG and DC all said force will certainly be used, but unlike the MC elections where papers were torn inside centres, everything must be done outside this time.” — SSP Patiala
“We are in contact with the MLA Sahib and his team… everything has been planned accordingly.” — DSP Nabha
“We will give MLA Sahib’s people the 9 am slot so their papers can be filed first.” — DSP Samana
“Any obstruction—by private people or by us—must be done outside. Tell the MLA that whoever needs to be stopped should be handled in the village or at home.” — SSP Patiala
“DSP Ghanaur, everyone is watching you. Whatever force you must use, do it outside.” — SSP Patiala
“Everyone knows nominations must be stopped, and rejections ensured.” — SSP Patiala
“If any complaint arises, I will prepare the positive report myself.” — SSP Patiala
“If papers need to be snatched, do it five kilometres before the centre. If someone still reaches inside, the RO will cancel the nomination.” — SSP Patiala
“Four papers were filed today; tomorrow we will handle everything at home or on the way as instructed.” — Jasbir
“Good — stay firm and work exactly as directed.” — SSP Patiala
Opposition Leaders React Sharply to Alleged Instructions
Charanjit Singh Channi
The allegations prompted sharp reactions from across the political spectrum. Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said, “The politics of manipulation and force — Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed — is in full swing. Opposition papers are being destroyed and candidates are being threatened by the police in broad daylight. But they forget one thing: Punjabis don’t fear anyone.”
Sunil Jakhar
BJP state president Sunil Jakhar said the episode revealed “clear signs of an attempt to manipulate the upcoming elections through intimidation,” adding that while the Aam Aadmi Party frequently accuses others of vote theft nationally, “in Punjab it appears determined to steal the entire election. The BJP will firmly oppose such coercion.”
Sarbjit Singh Jhinjer
Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer president Youth Akali Dal termed the alleged conversation “a planned murder of democracy,” claiming it showed senior officers issuing “brazen and unlawful instructions that no candidate from opposition parties should be allowed to file nomination papers.”
He alleged the police and civil administration were acting “at the behest of the Aam Aadmi Party government” and called for dismissal of the officers allegedly involved and for an inquiry supervised by the High Court.
Daljit Singh Cheema
Amid the row, senior SAD leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that the Punjab Police was “virtually operating as AAP’s enforcement wing” and said only a judicial inquiry ordered by the Governor or the Union Home Minister could restore public confidence in the system.
Varun Sharma IPS, SSP Patiala
Patiala Police issued a formal response dismissing the material.
In a statement, the force said, “It has come to notice that a fake AI-generated video is being circulated on social media, created with malicious intent to mislead the public, spread disinformation and disturb the law and order situation. Appropriate and stringent legal action will be taken against the culprits. Patiala Police urges citizens not to believe the disinformation. We remain fully committed to ensuring free and fair elections.”
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The Shiromani Akali Dal has since approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking verification of the audio and protection for candidates during the ongoing nomination process. The controversy comes at a sensitive stage of the local body poll schedule, prompting opposition parties to demand videography of all nomination-related activities and enhanced transparency.
With no independent forensic verification of the clip yet available, the matter remains sharply contested between allegations of political interference and the police’s assertion of fabricated digital media. 
Update: HC Orders CFSL Probe Into Patiala Police Audio Leak; AAP Government Under Pressure
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Ekjot Singh
Special Correspondent covering governance, public policy, and development for Punjab Today.
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