PANIPAT/CHANDIGARH — Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur of Panjaab Lawyers has issued an urgent public update regarding the continued detention of Bhai Hardeep Singh under the National Security Act (NSA) at the District Jail in Panipat, Haryana.

In a detailed video statement released two days back, Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur shared insights from his recent meeting with Hardeep Singh on May 20, 2026, raising serious concerns about his physical health, mental well-being, and the legal irregularities surrounding his ongoing imprisonment.

Background and Deportation
According to Advocate Manjhpur, Hardeep Singh, son of Sardar Nishan Singh and a resident of Panipat, traveled to Austria years ago on a valid visa and passport. However, he was convicted in a murder case in Vienna alongside other associates, serving his sentence from May 24, 2009, to April 11, 2025.

Upon the completion of his sentence, Singh filed for political asylum in Austria, citing a direct threat to his life if returned to India. Although his initial plea was rejected, he was allegedly deported directly from an Austrian detention center on August 28, 2025, despite having three weeks remaining to file a legal appeal. Upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi, Indian authorities immediately took him into custody and transferred him to Panipat Jail under the NSA.

Legal Battle and Health Concerns
The initial NSA detention order against Hardeep Singh eventually lapsed and became infructuous during proceedings at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. However, local authorities promptly issued renewed NSA orders to keep him detained. His case is currently being pursued by Senior Advocate Sardar Puran Singh Hundal.

Advocate Manjhpur emphasized that Hardeep Singh has no prior criminal record or pending cases anywhere in Punjab, Haryana, or the rest of India. Authorities have justified the NSA detention by alleging that Hardeep Singh is associated with the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). Hardeep Singh has strongly denied these allegations, maintaining that he has no contact or affiliation with that organization.

Furthermore, Hardeep Singh has expressed profound fears for his life and safety while inside the prison. He reportedly suffers from multiple physical ailments and is being denied adequate medical facilities, which has compounded the mental distress he is currently facing.

Appeals to Sikh Institutions and the Government
In his briefing, Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur strongly criticized the Haryana state government, currently led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, accusing the administration of unjustly targeting innocent Sikh youths who have no domestic criminal records.

Manjhpur issued a broad appeal to major Sikh religious and political bodies—including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), and the Jathedars of the Takhts—urging them to advocate for Hardeep Singh’s release. He called upon the Sikh diaspora and local community to pressure the authorities to ensure Singh is reunited with his elderly parents and to push for the broader release of long-detained Sikh political prisoners (Bandi Singhs).