Punjab sacrilege probe: Akali Dal accuses AAP govt of fresh SIT politics
Synopsis
The Akali Dal has called the AAP government's new Behbal Kalan SIT a political distraction, pointing to four already-filed chargesheets, 597 unresolved sacrilege cases, and the government's alleged failure to prosecute prime accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh — all while a video controversy involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann adds fuel to the fire.
Key Takeaways
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accused the AAP government in Punjab of political theatrics over a new SIT in the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case .
Akali Dal leader Parambans Singh Romana noted that four chargesheets had already been submitted, making a fresh probe unnecessary.
The party demanded action against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh , who was reportedly indicted by an earlier SIT but not prosecuted.
Romana cited 597 sacrilege cases in Punjab over nine years, with 247 accused unarrested , 102 cases untraced , and 82 cases cancelled .
The Akali Dal alleged the new SIT move was also meant to divert attention from a video allegedly showing CM Bhagwant Mann committing a sacrilege against the Guru Sahiban.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday, 4 July accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of playing politics over the sacrilege issue, alleging that the formation of a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case was a political stunt — even though four chargesheets had already been filed in the matter.
The Akali Dal's Core Allegation
Akali Dal leader Parambans Singh Romana said the AAP government had orchestrated wide media coverage of the new SIT — headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harjit Singh — visiting Burj Jwahar Singh and Bargari, the sites of the original sacrilege incidents. Romana pointed out that this new SIT is mandated to probe the Behbal Kalan firing case, which, he argued, is a separate matter from the sacrilege committed at Burj Jwahar Singh and Bargari.
'This is being done despite the fact that this SIT is probing the Behbal Kalan case, which has nothing to do with sacrilege committed in Burj Jwahar Singh and Bargari,' Romana said.
Questions Over Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Key Accused
The Akali Dal pressed the AAP government to explain why it had not initiated proceedings against jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who, according to Romana, had been indicted by an earlier SIT in the interlinked sacrilege cases. He alleged that despite Gurmeet Ram Rahim being the prime accused, the AAP government had not granted sanction to prosecute him.
Romana further alleged that the government had gone soft on another accused, Pradeep Kler, and had not yet questioned a third accused, Honeypreet. 'All this proves that the AAP government has done some deal with the Sirsa Dera head,' he claimed.
The Broader Sacrilege Record
Romana cited figures to argue that the government's record on sacrilege cases is poor across the board. He said 597 sacrilege cases had occurred in Punjab over the last nine years, of which 247 nominated accused remained unarrested, 102 cases were untraced, and 82 cases had been cancelled. He also questioned what action had been taken regarding an alleged sacrilege by the police force in Sultanpur Lodhi.
Political Context and the CM Video Row
The Akali Dal leader argued that sacrilege has historically been raised as a political issue ahead of elections, alleging that both the Indian National Congress (Congress) and AAP have consistently exploited it. He noted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had released a 467-page report on sacrilege cases three and a half years ago, yet key prosecutions had not followed.
Romana also linked the fresh SIT move to a separate controversy — a video purportedly showing Chief Minister Mann committing a sacrilege against the Guru Sahiban. He alleged the video had been confirmed as authentic and that a subsequent government cover-up had been exposed, suggesting the new SIT announcement was aimed at diverting public attention.
What Comes Next
The AAP government has not yet issued a formal response to the Akali Dal's allegations. With Punjab's political temperature rising over sacrilege and the video controversy, the opposition's pressure is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
But it arrives with its own political baggage — the party governed Punjab during the very years most of the 597 sacrilege cases occurred. The more substantive question it raises is why the AAP government, which released a 467-page sacrilege report over three years ago, has not moved to prosecute the prime accused. If the Gurmeet Ram Rahim inaction charge holds, it undermines AAP's core anti-corruption and accountability pitch in Punjab. The CM video controversy, if authenticated beyond dispute, adds a layer that makes the government's optics on sacrilege uniquely difficult to manage heading into the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Akali Dal opposing the new SIT in the Behbal Kalan case?
The Akali Dal argues that four chargesheets have already been submitted in the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case, making a fresh SIT redundant. The party contends the move is a political stunt designed to generate media coverage rather than advance justice.
What is the Behbal Kalan firing case?
The Behbal Kalan firing case stems from a 2015 incident in Punjab in which police opened fire during protests over sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, resulting in deaths. It is linked to, but legally separate from, the sacrilege incidents at Burj Jwahar Singh and Bargari.
Why has the Akali Dal raised the issue of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh?
The Akali Dal alleges that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda, was indicted by an earlier SIT in the interlinked sacrilege cases but that the AAP government has not granted sanction to prosecute him. The party claims this points to a backdoor arrangement between the government and the Dera.
What is the controversy around the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann video?
Akali Dal leader Romana alleged that a video showing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann committing a sacrilege against the Guru Sahiban had been confirmed as authentic and that a government cover-up attempt had been exposed. The AAP government has not formally responded to these specific allegations.
How many sacrilege cases remain unresolved in Punjab, according to the Akali Dal?
According to Romana, 597 sacrilege cases occurred in Punjab over the last nine years. Of these, 247 nominated accused remain unarrested, 102 cases are untraced, and 82 cases have been cancelled.
