A Mansa court strongly warned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for not appearing even once since 20 October 2022, saying his continued absence delays the case and shows an improper attitude, after granting him exemption only for the day on 28 April 2026.
A Mansa court strongly warned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after noting that he has not appeared even once before the court since 20 October 2022.
The court said that his continued absence is delaying the case and showing an improper attitude towards the judicial process.
Earlier, On 28 April 2026, the court allowed his exemption request only for the day but issued a strict direction for the next hearing.
The court clearly stated,
“The Counsel for the accused is directed to procure presence of accused Bhagwant Mann on the next date of hearing, failing which, his bail order shall be cancelled and coercive method will be adopted to ensure his presence before this Court.”
The presiding judge recorded that the file shows a long pattern of non-appearance.
The order says the record “clearly shows that since 20.10.2022 the above said accused has not appeared even once for proceedings due to which further proceedings could not be conducted in this case.”
The court further mentioned that even earlier, the accused had been directed to appear personally after his video-conference request was rejected. That direction was also not followed.
For the 28 April hearing, Mann’s lawyer again requested exemption, stating that the Chief Minister had an important meeting in Chandigarh and could not be present.
The court was not satisfied with this reasoning, noting that the application was “on vague ground, similar to his earlier exemption applications which clearly shows his conduct and attitude towards the Court’s proceedings.”
Even then, the court allowed exemption only for the day, while warning that there would be strict consequences if he does not appear next time.
The order directs Mann’s counsel to ensure his physical presence on the next hearing date, which is 1 May 2026. It also records another application filed under Section 273 of the BNSS, 2023, requesting permission to state the accusation through his authorized lawyer.
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The court supplied a copy of the application and ordered that a reply be filed by 01.05.2026.
The matter, Nazar Singh Manshahia vs. Bhagwant Mann and Others, involves several accused persons. Many co-accused have already been discharged by the High Court, while one accused has been declared a proclaimed offender and another has died, leading to abatement of proceedings.
However, the court noted that proceedings against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have been repeatedly stalled due to his non-appearance.