Ludhiana, Aug. 17 -- The tug-of-war over the Ludhiana district Congress office has spiraled into a political-legal showdown, with the Punjab and Haryana high court now stepping in after allegations that Congress leaders and workers openly defied a court-ordered possession.

The high court issued notice on August 11, on a contempt petition filed by Vimmi Gogna, the legal claimant to the property, accusing senior Congress leaders and their supporters of "intentionally and wilfully" disobeying a July 7 civil court order that authorised bailiffs to hand over possession of the disputed premises-even by breaking locks if necessary.

According to court records, bailiffs had on July 16 executed the order, handed possession to Gogna, and confirmed...