The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday, 31 July submitted two formal memos to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in Chandigarh, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged paper leaks in 10 recruitment examinations and a high-level judicial inquiry into the alleged lathi-charge on Scheduled Caste women and sanitation workers in Barnala. The delegation was led by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who urged the Governor to safeguard democratic rights and protect the futures of an estimated 10 lakh students affected by repeated exam irregularities.

Key Demands Placed Before the Governor

The SAD delegation pressed for a judicial probe into the Barnala incident, to be headed by a retired or sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On the examination scam, the party called for a CBI investigation into the alleged role of the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, public servants, and private individuals. The delegation also demanded a forensic audit of all digital records, CCTV footage, servers, communication records, and examination-related documents across all recruitments conducted by state agencies over the past four-and-a-half years.

Barnala Lathi-Charge: What the Party Alleged

Badal alleged that police personnel had struck male and female sanitation workers on their heads with lathis during a protest in Barnala town, and that adequate compensation and medical treatment had not been provided to the injured. The SAD demanded that an attempt-to-murder case be registered against Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satvir Singh Bains and all other officials allegedly involved, and that those officials be dismissed from service. 'We apprised the Governor that the police was being used as goons of the AAP government and had been given directions to suppress all democratic protests ruthlessly,' Badal alleged.

The Exam Leak Allegations

The SAD told the Governor that a perception had taken hold among the public that the repeated examination leaks were occurring in connivance with senior functionaries of the Punjab government, and that the pattern pointed to an organised jobs-for-money racket. The party alleged that 10 paper leaks had taken place under the current administration, adversely impacting 10 lakh aspirants who had prepared for competitive government recruitment exams. The delegation called for a comprehensive audit of all recruitment examinations held by various state agencies during the current government's tenure.

Political Context

This comes amid sustained opposition pressure on the AAP government in Punjab over its handling of law enforcement and public sector recruitment. The SAD's direct appeal to the Governor signals an escalation beyond the state legislature, as the party seeks intervention from the constitutional head of the state. Notably, exam paper leaks have emerged as a politically charged issue across multiple Indian states in recent years, with affected students increasingly mobilising in protest. The Punjab government has not issued an immediate public response to the SAD's allegations.

What Happens Next

The Governor's office has received both memos; no formal response had been made public at the time of reporting. Should the Governor refer the matters to the Centre or direct state agencies to act, it could trigger a formal inquiry process. The sanitation workers' demands, described by Badal as 'genuine and long-pending', remain unresolved, and the SAD has called for an early and substantive dialogue between the government and the workers.