The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), on Friday, January 23, 2026.
The action follows a provocative video released by Pannun on social media, in which he allegedly threatened to disrupt the upcoming 77th Republic Day celebrations and claimed his “sleeper cells” had already pasted pro-Khalistan posters across the capital.
Key Details of the FIR
The Delhi Police have invoked several stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to address the threats:
| BNS Section | Offense |
| Section 152 | Acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India |
| Section 196 | Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc. |
| Section 197 | Imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration |
| Section 61 | Criminal conspiracy |
Unsubstantiated Claims
In the video, Pannun specifically named the Rohini and Dabri areas as locations where his supporters had placed posters. However, after extensive searches by the Special Cell and local police units, no such posters or materials were found. Officials believe the claims were intended to spread fear and panic ahead of the national holiday.
Disruption Threats & Bounties
Pannun reportedly announced several rewards to incentivize unrest:
- $111,000 Reward: For anyone who stops Prime Minister Narendra Modi from hoisting the national flag on January 26.
- EU Target: A $100,000 reward for anyone who raises Khalistani flags in front of European Union leaders attending the celebrations.
- Infrastructure Threats: Calls to place Khalistan flags on railway tracks across Punjab.
High-Tech Security Blitz: 2026 Republic Day
To counter these threats, the Delhi Police have implemented a “technology-driven” security architecture for the first time:
- AI Smart Glasses: Selected personnel on the ground will wear smart glasses developed by AjnaLens. These devices feature real-time Facial Recognition (FRS) and Thermal Imaging to identify suspects even if they are wearing masks or disguises.
- Standalone Databases: For data security, the glasses operate on an encrypted local database of 65,000 known criminals and terrorists, completely disconnected from the internet.
- Deployment: Approximately 10,000 police personnel have been deployed, supported by anti-drone units and sniper teams stationed along Kartavya Path.