Patiala, Dec. 7 -- The Punjab Police has summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and several other party leaders in relation to the FIR registered at the Patiala Cybercrime police station and complaint filed with State Election Commission (SEC) over the circulation of an alleged audio clip purportedly featuring SSP Varun Sharma asking cops to deter opposition candidates from filing nominations for the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections. Apart from Sukhbir, SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler and Youth Akali Dal president Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjher have also been summoned. The summons, issued under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the additional director general of police (ADGP, law & order), directs the SAD leaders to appear before the police on Sunday, i.e. December 7, at 11 am at Punjab Police Headquarters, Sector 9, Chandigarh. "They have been called to present evidence related to the complaint filed before the State Election Commission. In addition, we are also investigating the FIR registered by Patiala police," ADGP (law and order) SPS Parmar said, confirming the summons. According to the summons, a copy of which is with HT, the SAD leaders have been called for an inquiry into a complaint, dated December 4, filed with the State Election Commission of Punjab and an FIR filed on the same day at the police station cybercrime, Patiala. The summons reads: "Regarding the investigation of above-mentioned case FIR and inquiry into above-mentioned complaint filed before the State Election Commission, Punjab, the matter relates to circulation of audio clip on various social media platforms, and it appears that the original content is available with you. The content is required to be taken on record for further proceedings in the inquiry/investigation." It further reads: "In view of the above, you are hereby directed to produce any oral/documentary/digital/electronic evidence in your possession to the undersigned in person or through an authorised representative in my office at Room No.307, 3d Floor, Punjab Police Headquarters, Sector-9, Chandigarh at 11.00 am on 07-12-2025 without fail. The evidence is essential for the purposes of the inquiry/investigation and for bringing on record relevant evidence." SAD had filed a formal complaint with the SEC alleging that the leaked clip revealed senior police officers discussing ways to deter opposition candidates, allegedly in coordination with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). On December 4, SAD had kicked up a political row after it shared an alleged leaked audio clip, which it said was a conference call in which the Patiala SSP purportedly can be is heard issuing instructions to cops to stop candidates at their houses, villages, or en route to the nomination centres, rather than at the centres. The clip's authenticity could not be independently verified by HT. The Patiala police termed the audio clip as AI-generated and registered an FIR under the Information Technology Act at the cyber cell police station. According to party leaders, Sukhbir is unlikely to appear before the Punjab Police, though other SAD leaders are expected to present themselves before the ADGP on Sunday. SAD spokesperson Kler confirmed that he will appear before the police. "The party had already filed a complaint before the State Election Commission and a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana high court regarding the alleged audio clip. Ahead of the high court hearing, the Punjab Police has summoned me to record my statement. I will appear before the ADGP (law and order)," he said. The Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday said the nominations of a huge number of its candidates for the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections were rejected allegedly at the behest of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The party demanded that the deadline for filing nominations in all areas where there were complaints of "high-handedness" should be extended in order to facilitate a level-playing ground for all. It also slammed the State Election Commission for its alleged "failure in supervising the conduct of free and fair elections". SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema also demanded that the State Election Commission should have removed the Patiala SSP in order to restore people's confidence in a fair election but it has failed to do so. The senior Akali leader called for nomination of independent observers for the election, besides demanding stringent action, including chargesheeting of police and civil officials who allegedly "vitiated the election atmosphere." "The SAD will submit names of returning officers who acted in a partisan manner and appeal that they should not be put on duty during the general elections in 2027," he said. Cheema said that in Tarn Taran, 31 out of 72 nominations for Zila Parishad elections and 31 out of 63 nominations for Panchayat Samiti polls were rejected. Similarly, 37 nominations for Panchayat Samiti polls in Gandiwind, 43 in Khadoor Sahib, 77 in Bhikhiwind, 40 in Naushehra Pannuan and 56 in Patti were rejected, he said. Due to this, Cheema said, a large number of seats were won by the AAP unopposed. In Zira Panchayat Samiti in Ferozepur district, not even a single SAD candidate could file nomination, while for Qadian Panchayat Samiti in Gurdaspur district, 15 nominations of SAD candidates were rejected, the Akali leader claimed. Similarly, SAD candidates' nominations were rejected in Jaiton, Ghuman, Raja Sansi, Jandiala, Patran, Ghanour, Ajnala, Baba Bakala and Fatehgarh Churian in other districts, he added. Lashing out at the state poll body, Cheema said, "What is the reason behind these rejections? This is total supervision failure of the State Election Commission." The Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab are scheduled on December 14. Votes will be counted on December 17. The last date for filing nominations was December 4, while the scrutiny of nominations took place on December 5. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is December 6....