Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Court Actions on Detentions and FIRs
A law student and RTI activist named Manik Goyal posted on social media about the Punjab Chief Minister's helicopter flying around while the CM was on an official trip to Japan.
Three journalists also talked about this on their platforms.
The police filed a case against them for this post.
The High Court has now stopped the investigation in this case until the next hearing.
The petitioners say they were just asking questions and sharing public information, and the case is trying to stop them from speaking up.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing the case of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained under the National Security Act.
His wife argues that the detention is unfair.
The court is also looking at the case of MP Amritpal Singh, who has been detained multiple times under the same act.
The court wants more information about why he was detained.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed further investigation in an FIR against an RTI activist and three journalists over a social media post questioning the use of the Punjab CM's helicopter.
The Supreme Court is hearing the plea of Gitanjali J Angmo, the wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, against his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Punjab government to place on record the original files that formed the basis of the preventive detention order issued against Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh.
The petitioners argue that the post was a bona fide public query and that the FIR is intended to stifle dissent and independent journalism.
Amritpal Singh has questioned the legality of the third successive detention order, contending that there is no credible material linking him to activities prejudicial to public order or national security.
- Who
- Manik Goyal (RTI activist), Baljinder Singh, Maninderjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh Makkar (journalists), Sonam Wangchuk (climate activist), Amritpal Singh (MP)
- What
- Court actions on detentions and FIRs against activists and journalists
- When
- December 9, 2025 (post), December 12, 2025 (FIR), September 26, 2025 (detention), April 17, 2025 (detention order), January 20, 2026 (next hearing)
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, Cyber Crime Police Station, Ludhiana, Supreme Court, Khaltsi Police Station, Leh District, Ladakh
- Why
- Questions raised about the use of the CM's helicopter, detention under the National Security Act, and challenges to the legality of detention orders
- Petitioners
- Manik Goyal (RTI activist), Baljinder Singh, Maninderjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh Makkar (journalists)
- FIR Number
- 67 of 2025
- FIR Date
- December 12, 2025
- FIR Location
- Cyber Crime Police Station, Ludhiana
- FIR Sections
- 353(1), 353(2), 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Social Media Post Date
- December 9, 2025
- Chief Minister's Visit
- Japan (December 1-10, 2025)
- Flight Tracking Platform
- FlightRadar24
- Detention Date
- September 26, 2025
- Detention Location
- Jodhpur
- Activist's Case Initiated
- Khaltsi Police Station, Leh District, Ladakh
- Detention Act
- National Security Act, 1980
- Detention Order Date
- April 17, 2025
- Next Hearing Date
- January 20, 2026
Sources
HC stays probe against RTI activist, 3 journalists over CM helicopter post
Punjab and Haryana HC stays probe against RTI activist, three journalists over CM helicopter post
High Court seeks detention records in MP Amritpal’s case, gives Punjab week to reply
Sonam Wangchuk Hearing Live Updates: Supreme Court to continue hearing plea against Wangchuk’s detention
