SAD president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday in connection with the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing case. Badal was questioned by the SIT as part of its ongoing investigation into the events that followed protests over the alleged desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. The SIT, headed by Deputy Inspector General (Bathinda Range) Harjit Singh, questioned Badal at the Punjab Police Officers Institute in Chandigarh’s Sector 32.

He arrived at the venue accompanied by senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Balwinder Singh Bhundar. A large number of party supporters gathered outside the institute, while security arrangements were strengthened around the area. The questioning reportedly continued for nearly two hours, after which Badal said he had appeared before the SIT for the fourth time and had cooperated with the investigation.

Before appearing before the team, Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government of using investigative agencies for political purposes. He alleged that the sacrilege issue was being used by political parties for electoral gains rather than to deliver justice. "The Akali Dal’s storm has started and it will ruin the AAP. Both AAP and Congress have been playing politics over the sacrilege issue. The government has no interest in giving justice on sacrilege. It is solely indulging in politics," Badal said.

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The SAD leader also questioned why the investigation had not identified those responsible even after nearly 11 years. He maintained that he had nothing to hide and would continue cooperating with the legal process whenever called by investigators. The Behbal Kalan case dates back to October 14, 2015, when police firing during protests in Faridkot district resulted in the deaths of two protesters, Gurjeet Singh and Krishan Bhagwan Singh. Several others were injured during related police action in Kotkapura.

The protests followed incidents involving the theft of a copy of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara, the circulation of handwritten sacrilegious posters and the discovery of torn pages of the holy scripture at Bargari. At the time of the incidents, the Shiromani Akali Dal was in power in Punjab. Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister, while Sukhbir Singh Badal served as Deputy Chief Minister and held the home portfolio.

Sources said the SIT issued the notice to Sukhbir Badal after questioning former Union minister and BJP leader Vijay Sampla. Sampla reportedly denied signing a joint memorandum submitted to the then Punjab Governor in 2018 seeking a judicial probe and requested certified copies of documents shown to him. The SIT has also recorded statements from former SAD MLA Mantar Singh Brar and other individuals as part of its investigation.

The probe has gained attention following statements from several key figures connected to the events. The case remains a major political issue in Punjab, with different parties accusing each other of delaying justice and using the matter for political advantage. The SIT’s ongoing proceedings are expected to continue as investigators examine statements and documents related to the firing and the events leading up to it.

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