Senior Akali Dal Leader Amarjit Singh Chawla Booked for Rape, SGPC Under Scanner
Chandigarh: A grave legal crisis has gripped the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) following the registration of a rape case against senior leader and prominent committee member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The FIR, filed at the Sri Anandpur Sahib police station on August 21, has sent shockwaves through the religious and political circles of Punjab.
The case involves serious allegations lodged by a woman from the Sangrur district, currently residing in Bahrain. According to the complaint, she was held against her will and subjected to sexual assault at a serai (pilgrims’ rest house) located within the premises of Sri Anandpur Sahib. The charges have been registered under Sections 64, 127(2), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Denials and Internal Action
Amarjit Singh Chawla has categorically denied the allegations, dismissing the case as a calculated effort to tarnish his reputation through fabricated claims.
While the legal process moves forward, the SGPC has initiated its own internal disciplinary measures. The complainant’s statement also implicated two other individuals—additional head granthi Malkit Singh and a driver, Mohan Singh—alleging that they subjected her to harassment through vulgar messages. Although neither individual is currently named as an accused in the FIR, SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan confirmed that both have been placed under suspension. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has further directed a comprehensive inquiry into the administrative failures that may have enabled such conduct within the shrine’s premises.
Growing Pressure for Accountability
The controversy has widened, with political leaders now demanding transparency regarding how the woman was granted access to state-sanctioned amenities. Dakha MLA and Akali leader Manpreet Singh Ayali has launched a scathing critique of the party’s leadership, calling for resignations on moral grounds.
Ayali has raised pointed questions regarding the operational lapses at the shrine. “Who authorized the provision of VIP facilities to the complainant, and by whose order were SGPC vehicles, drivers, and financial resources extended to her?” he asked. He further demanded that investigators determine whether the woman was being manipulated as a political pawn against specific individuals within the organization.
Furthermore, Ayali expressed deep concern over the delay in the suspect’s arrest, alleging that authorities provided sufficient time for the accused to flee the country. He also questioned the perceived silence of the Acting Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgajj, regarding the matter.
Religious Leadership Responds
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgajj, who holds the dual responsibility of acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, addressed the escalating situation cautiously. Stating that the incident is currently under police investigation, he asserted, “Whoever is found guilty in the probe must face the law; no one should be spared.”
The complainant, who publicized her ordeal via a social media broadcast, maintains that she had approached multiple Sikh organizations and senior leadership figures, including the SGPC president and the Jathedar, prior to moving forward with the police. As the investigation continues and law enforcement gathers evidence, the case remains a significant test of accountability for Punjab’s premier religious management body.
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