Punjab paper leak scam: Akali Dal alleges 11 exams 'managed' under AAP
Synopsis
Sukhbir Badal has accused the AAP government of running an organised cash-for-paper-leak operation across 11 Punjab exams, implicating Kejriwal, Sisodia, and CM Mann by name. With the Punjab and Haryana High Court already staying multiple selection processes — including the Pharmacy Officers exam on the same day — the political charge has rare judicial backing as context.
Key Takeaways
Sukhbir Badal alleged a cash-for-paper-leak scam involving 11 examinations under the AAP government in Punjab .
He claimed more than 5 lakh youth have been affected by the alleged leaks.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the Pharmacy Officers selection process on 29 July , citing concerns over examination integrity.
Badal alleged that Arvind Kejriwal , Manish Sisodia , and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were 'defending the scam robustly.' The SAD announced an emergency meeting on Thursday to plan its agitation against the AAP government.
Badal urged the AAP government not to act on the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026 without consulting the SGPC and Sri Akal Takht Sahib .
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday, 29 July alleged that a cash-for-paper-leak racket had taken root in Punjab, with 11 examination papers reportedly 'managed' through selective leaks under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Badal made the allegations at a media interaction in Ludhiana following a meeting with the party's district leadership, claiming that over 5 lakh youth had been affected.
What Badal Alleged
The Akali Dal chief claimed that candidates had approached him directly, saying they saw no future in Punjab. 'Youth are coming up to me and telling me they have no future in Punjab as AAP has even sold their future by collecting huge sums of money in lieu of selective leaks,' Badal said.
He alleged that the modus operandi involved top AAP leadership — from Arvind Kejriwal to Manish Sisodia and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann — 'defending this scam robustly.' He contended that despite the leadership publicly denying any paper leak had occurred, the party had previously acknowledged a leak in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
High Court Stays Examinations
The allegations come amid active judicial scrutiny. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has been staying multiple examinations conducted by the AAP government, citing concerns over the integrity of the selection process. On Wednesday itself, the High Court stayed the Pharmacy Officers selection process, suspecting that the examination procedure had been vitiated.
This is at least the second consecutive week in which the court has intervened to halt a state-administered selection process, reflecting the judiciary's deepening concern over examination governance in Punjab.
Akali Dal's Planned Response
Badal announced that the SAD would convene an emergency meeting on Thursday to determine the party's course of action against the AAP government on the paper-leak issue. He pledged that the party would agitate to secure 'exemplary punishment' for all those found guilty of perpetuating what he described as an organised racket.
'We have always stood by the youth and will not only do our utmost to ensure justice is given to more than 5 lakh youth who have been affected by the examination paper leaks, but also agitate to secure exemplary punishment to all those guilty of perpetuating this racket,' Badal said.
Guru Granth Sahib Act: Badal Urges SGPC Consultation
Separately, Badal was asked about the revised draft of the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, submitted to the Sri Akal Takht secretariat by an AAP representative. He said it was for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Sri Akal Takht Sahib jathedar to examine whether the religious objections had been addressed.
'We are very clear. The AAP government should not take any decision on religious affairs without consulting the SGPC and the Sri Akal Takht Sahib,' Badal stated. The AAP government is yet to formally respond to these demands.
Point of View
But they arrive in an opposition vacuum — the Akali Dal is seeking relevance in a state where it suffered a historic rout in 2022. That said, the Punjab and Haryana High Court's repeated stays on AAP-administered exams lend the charges an institutional weight that goes beyond partisan point-scoring. The AAP's own admission of the TET leak, now being weaponised against it, is a credibility problem of its own making. The deeper issue is structural: Punjab's examination administration has been contested across multiple governments, suggesting systemic rot that no single party can credibly claim to be above.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punjab paper leak scam alleged by Sukhbir Badal?
Sukhbir Badal has alleged that the AAP government in Punjab orchestrated a cash-for-paper-leak operation across 11 examinations, where selective leaks were provided to candidates in exchange for money. He claims over 5 lakh youth have been adversely affected by the racket.
Which leaders has Akali Dal named in the Punjab paper leak allegation?
Badal named Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging they are 'defending the scam robustly' despite the AAP having previously acknowledged a leak in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
What action has the Punjab and Haryana High Court taken on Punjab exams?
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has been staying multiple examinations conducted by the AAP government. On 29 July, it stayed the Pharmacy Officers selection process, suspecting the examination procedure had been vitiated.
What is the Akali Dal planning to do next?
The Shiromani Akali Dal announced an emergency meeting on Thursday to decide its course of agitation against the AAP government over the paper-leak issue. Badal pledged to seek exemplary punishment for those found guilty.
What did Badal say about the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act?
Badal said the revised draft of the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 should be examined by the SGPC and the Sri Akal Takht Sahib jathedar. He insisted the AAP government must not take decisions on religious affairs without consulting these bodies.
