Chandigarh: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing, which claimed the lives of two anti-sacrilege protesters, on Wednesday recorded the statement of former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.
The statement pertains to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal's "admission of guilt" for the incident before the Akal Takht on Dec 2, 2024, after which the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs pronounced tankhah (religious punishment) on him as atonement for "mistakes" and "religious misconduct". These included the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the police firing on protesters in Behbal Kalan, which occurred during the SAD-led govt when Badal served as deputy CM holding the home portfolio.
Giani Raghbir Singh told TOI over phone he was asked why he did not pursue legal action following Badal's "admission of guilt". "Our domain was limited to pronouncing religious punishment. Badal performed the sewa imposed on him. Though he backtracked later, live proceedings at the Akal Takht were witnessed across the globe," he said.
Badal hit back at the ex-jathedar, saying he was not afraid of facing cases or going to jail.
