Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said he would cooperate with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing cases. At the same time, he alleged that the investigation was being driven by politics rather than the pursuit of justice.
Reacting to the SIT summons asking him to appear before the probing team on Monday, Badal told reporters, "We will definitely appear, no matter how many times we are called. This is politics, not justice."
The SIT is investigating the 2015 police firing incidents linked to the sacrilege cases, in which two protesters were killed and several others were injured during protests in Faridkot district.
Sources said the SIT decided to summon Badal after recording the statement of former Union minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Sampla. During his deposition, Sampla allegedly questioned the authenticity of his signature on a memorandum submitted to the Punjab Governor along with Sukhbir Singh Badal in connection with the sacrilege incidents.
The investigation team is also looking into the sequence of events that led to the police firing in October 2015. Statements of former officials and political leaders have been recorded as investigators try to establish accountability in the case.
The Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents took place during demonstrations over the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015. The matter has remained under investigation for years, with multiple SIT probes, court proceedings and legal challenges.
The latest summons to the SAD chief comes amid renewed political focus on the sacrilege issue ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The SIT has stepped up its investigation by reconstructing the crime scene, recording fresh statements from former officials and political leaders, and examining evidence related to the decisions taken before the police firing.
Follow us
