‘Plan was to reach India Gate’: Initial details from Deep Sidhu’s questioning in R-Day violence case emerge

The Delhi Police on Tuesday announced that they have arrested Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu over his alleged role in the Republic Day violence in Delhi during the January 26 farmers’ tractor rally. Sidhu was wanted by the police for the violence witnessed at the Red Fort.

Sidhu was nabbed by a team of Delhi Police's Special Cell from Zirakpur area between Chandigarh and Ambala. The Delhi Police had earlier announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the actor’s arrest.

As per the initial details available from Sidhu’s preliminary questioning, the accused has said that he got attached with the farmers’ protest against the three farm laws after getting emotional about the cause.

Times Now has learned via sources that Sidhu had suspected farmer unions’ leaders were going soft on the government during the talks and also during their meeting with the Delhi Police ahead of the tractor rally on January 26.

Sidhu did not have much work during the coronavirus-induced lockdown and started taking interest in the farmers’ protest in Punjab since August. As he joined the protest, youth in large numbers started coming to the protest site where he campaigned.

He reached Delhi with farmers on November 28. It was a few days before the Republic Day that Sidhu, along with his supporters, decided to breach the designated route for the tractors’ rally.

It has been revealed by the actor that he had asked his supporters to steal fleece jackets which were supposed to be given to volunteers for the rally. The supporters were told to breach the route and reach Red Fort at least if India Gate wasn’t possible.

During questioning, Sidhu denied any links with radical elements but sources said the actor appears to believe in the hardline ideology.

The initial probe has also revealed that another absconding accused Jugraj Singh, who had hoisted the religious flag at the Red Fort on January 26, was specifically brought to Delhi. Singh, who belongs to Taran Taran in Punjab, used to hoist flags in gurudwaras.

Another accused Sukhvinder Singh was arrested on Sunday from Chandigarh. He was also part of the agitation from the beginning and was seen at Lahori Gate of Red Fort on January 26.