India, Dec. 10 -- Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Varun Sharma has proceeded on a week-long leave amid the controversy involving a viral audio clip and ahead of a Punjab and Haryana high court hearing on Wednesday.

The audio clip shared on social media by Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on December 4 purportedly features the Patiala SSP directing his subordinates to prevent opposition candidates from filing their nomination papers for the zila parishad and block samiti elections scheduled on December 14.

Though Sharma applied for leave from December 10 to 15 citing family commitments, the timing coincides with the controversy.

Police sources said Sharma was told to proceed on leave on Tuesday evening ahe...