Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has said he will fully cooperate with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) after being summoned in connection with the investigation into the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases.
The development comes a day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that action would be taken against Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Within 24 hours of the Chief Minister’s remarks, the SIT issued a notice summoning Badal, drawing fresh political attention to one of Punjab’s most sensitive and closely watched investigations.
Responding to the summons, Sukhbir Singh Badal adopted a cooperative stance, stating, “I will appear whenever they call me.” His brief response indicated that he intends to comply with the investigation and present himself before the SIT as required.
The Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura cases stem from the unrest that followed the 2015 sacrilege incidents involving the Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab. During protests demanding action against those responsible for the sacrilege, police opened fire at Behbal Kalan, resulting in the deaths of two protesters and injuries to several others. The police action at Kotkapura, where demonstrators were dispersed using force, also remains under judicial and investigative scrutiny. The incidents have continued to influence Punjab’s political discourse for nearly a decade.
Successive governments have constituted Special Investigation Teams to probe the circumstances surrounding the police firing and to determine whether there was any abuse of authority or administrative lapses. The cases have seen multiple legal proceedings, court interventions, and changes in investigative teams over the years, making them among the longest-running high-profile investigations in the state.
The timing of the latest summons has triggered political debate, with opposition parties questioning whether the move was influenced by the Chief Minister’s public remarks made just a day earlier. Leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal have argued that investigative agencies should function independently and without political interference. On the other hand, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has maintained that the law is taking its course and that no individual, regardless of political stature, is above investigation.
Sukhbir Singh Badal has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the 2015 incidents. The former Deputy Chief Minister has previously described the cases against him as politically motivated while maintaining that he is prepared to cooperate with lawful investigations.
The latest development is expected to intensify political exchanges in Punjab, where the sacrilege issue and the subsequent police firing continue to evoke strong public emotions. The outcome of the SIT’s investigation will be closely watched by political parties, victims’ families, and the public, as the cases remain central to the state’s ongoing debate over accountability, justice, and governance.
With Sukhbir Singh Badal confirming his willingness to appear before the SIT, attention now shifts to the forthcoming proceedings and whether the investigation brings fresh clarity to events that have shaped Punjab’s political landscape for nearly ten years.