Overview
- The Special Investigation Team recorded former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh’s statement on Thursday, and he told investigators that Sukhbir Singh Badal answered “yes” to questions about responsibility during a December 2, 2024 Takht proceeding.
- Giani Raghbir said the Takht event was publicly broadcast and that video and audio recordings are kept in Akal Takht records and on media platforms, material the SIT may seek to corroborate his account.
- Sukhbir Badal has denied the allegations, accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of political vendetta, and called the former jathedar an AAP stooge in public remarks.
- The SIT has previously filed chargesheets against police officers over the October 14, 2015 Behbal Kalan firing that left two protesters dead, and related court proceedings are continuing in Chandigarh.
- If the recordings support the ex‑jathedar’s claim, investigators could broaden legal scrutiny of political leaders and deepen the dispute between Sikh institutions and parties ahead of the 2027 state elections.