Patiala Viral Audio Case: SSP Varun Sharma sent on leave before hearing in HC

December 10, 2025

Patiala SSP Varun Sharma has been sent on leave. Sangrur SSP Sartaj Singh has been given additional charge in his place.

An alleged audio recording of Patiala police officers went viral ahead of the district council and block committee elections scheduled for December 14. A hearing on the matter will be held today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

During the hearing, the Election Commission will submit a report on the alleged audio recording of the police officers to the court. Action has been taken against the Patiala SSP even before the hearing.

Opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress, and BJP, had filed a petition in the High Court regarding the viral audio.

An audio recording of the Patiala police had surfaced
An alleged audio clip related to the Patiala police went viral on social media. It is a recording of a conference call, allegedly between Patiala SSP Varun Sharma and other DSP officers. In the audio, a voice identified as the SSP’s is heard saying that “force” (pressure or coercion) should be used to prevent the nomination of opposition candidates (especially from the Shiromani Akali Dal).

This audio was shared by Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on his social media. The Patiala police had stated that the viral audio was fake and AI-generated. But now the matter has reached the High Court.