The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere in the criminal defamation case against former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The case relates to his alleged remarks linking the Akhand Kirtani Jatha (AKJ) with the banned organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu rejected Badal's plea challenging the proceedings. The complaint was filed by Rajinder Pal Singh, an AKJ member, who alleged that Badal's statements damaged his reputation by associating him with a banned organisation.
The Supreme Court found no reason to step in at this stage and dismissed Badal's petition.
The matter dates back to the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections. At the time, then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had visited Rajinder Pal Singh's residence. According to the complaint, Badal later accused Kejriwal of trying to reach out to radical elements in Punjab.
Singh alleged that Badal had called the AKJ the “political front” of BKI and described him as the group's spokesperson. Claiming that these remarks were defamatory, Singh filed a criminal complaint against the SAD leader.
A Chandigarh magistrate later took cognisance of the complaint and summoned Badal to appear in the case. Badal subsequently challenged the proceedings before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but his plea was dismissed in October 2025. He then moved the Supreme Court, which has now refused to interfere.
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