New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has informed the Supreme Court that transferring Jagtar Singh Hawara, a convict in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, from Delhi's Tihar Jail to a prison in Punjab could have a significant impact on the state's upcoming Assembly elections.

The IB conveyed its concerns to a Bench headed by Justice M. M. Sundresh, stating that Hawara falls under the high-risk category and, therefore, cannot be transferred from Delhi to Punjab.

During the hearing, senior advocate Muralidhar submitted that if the concern was related to the forthcoming elections, the matter could be reconsidered after three months. The Supreme Court subsequently directed that the case be taken up again in February 2027. Punjab is scheduled to hold its Assembly elections in early 2027.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Delhi government to seek the Intelligence Bureau's opinion on Hawara's plea seeking transfer from Tihar Jail to a prison in Punjab.

Appearing for the Delhi government, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that Hawara had been involved in a prison escape incident and that his death sentence in the assassination case had subsequently been commuted to life imprisonment. She also referred to an affidavit filed by the Punjab government, arguing that his transfer could adversely affect the law-and-order situation in the state.

On October 13, Hawara's counsel had told the court that his 82-year-old mother was critically ill and that he was seeking a transfer to a high-security prison in Punjab, not release from custody. His lawyer argued that Hawara, a native of Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab, should be shifted to a prison in his home state.

In response, the Supreme Court observed that when an individual holds a particular ideology, it is difficult to predict when or how it might manifest itself. The court noted that Hawara's conduct could change and he might reform, but it was impossible to anticipate what circumstances could potentially provoke him in the future. It added that the concerns raised by the Punjab government could not be ignored.

On September 27, 2025, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Centre, the Chandigarh administration, and the governments of Delhi and Punjab on Hawara's plea.

Hawara is serving a life sentence in connection with the August 31, 1995, bomb blast at the entrance of the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, which killed then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and 16 others.

In March 2007, a trial court sentenced Hawara to death. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment in October 2010.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar