Police security was removed from outside Bhajji’s Jalandhar residence after leaving Aam Aadmi Party.
Former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh Bhajji, a resident of Jalandhar, has been dealt a blow by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court has dismissed his petition seeking restoration of Punjab Police security. The court said that based on the record, it cannot be said that his security was suddenly withdrawn because he left the Aam Aadmi Party.
The High Court accepted that the decision to withdraw security had already been taken by the Security Review Committee. Along with this, the court said that merely having a protest outside one’s house or being called a traitor does not in itself prove a threat to life, especially when the protest was not violent.
Taking into account the Y+ security received from the Centre and the state government’s assurance of providing local security upon arrival in Punjab, the High Court disposed of the petition without any further directions.
It is noteworthy that Bhajji left AAP on 24th April, and the very next day on 25th April, Punjab Police withdrew his security. He joined BJP along with Raghav Chadha. Later, Parliament approved making him a BJP MP.
Bhajji presented these arguments in High Court
- Security suddenly withdrawn after leaving party: Harbhajan Singh Bhajji’s lawyer stated in a petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that he is a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. While in the Aam Aadmi Party, he had security of about 25 police personnel. He left the party on April 24, but the very next day on April 25, Punjab Police withdrew his security.
- Decision taken without any security review: In the petition, he stated that the decision to withdraw security was taken without any security review and without giving him an opportunity to present his side. He also mentioned that a protest was held outside his house in Jalandhar and posters calling him a ‘traitor’ were put up. In such circumstances, there is a real threat to his security, therefore security should be restored.
Government’s arguments in response to the petition
- Security Review Committee had decided: The Punjab government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court in response to the petition that the decision to withdraw the MP’s security was not taken after he left the Aam Aadmi Party, but was based on an assessment made in a Security Review Committee meeting on March 3, 2026, before that.
- Bhajji will get local-level security whenever he comes to Punjab: The government told the court that during the review, no security agency had provided any specific threat input regarding him. It was also stated that his activities in Punjab are limited and he spends most of his time outside the state. In such a situation, arrangements have been made that whenever he comes to Punjab, Jalandhar Police will provide necessary security at the local level.
- Central Home Ministry Provided Y+ Security: The government also stated that the Central Home Ministry had already provided them with Y Plus (Y+) category security through CRPF on May 4, 2026.
After leaving AAP, the word ‘traitor’ was written outside Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh’s house.
Writing Traitor Outside House Not Basis for Threat
After hearing the case, the High Court stated in its order that merely having demonstrations outside one’s house or being called a traitor does not in itself prove a real threat to life and personal liberty, especially when the demonstration has not been violent. Taking into account the Y Plus security received from the Centre and the state government’s assurance of providing local security upon arrival in Punjab, the court disposed of the petition without any further directions.
