In a major development in the Behbal Kalan firing case, the Punjab Government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has issued a summons to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, directing him to appear for questioning.
The action came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressed a public gathering in Mukerian on July 15. He said that "it is now Sukhbir Badal's turn to go to jail." Sukhbir Badal has been asked to appear before the SIT at 11 a.m. next Monday. Earlier, BJP leader Vijay Sampla had also been questioned by the SIT in connection with the investigation.
Reaction of Badal to the summon
Responding to the SIT notice, Sukhbir Badal said:
"Call me as many times as you want; I will appear every single time. Ten years have passed. This is a bundle of lies. Even after a decade, no chargesheet has been filed. They are staging dramas and playing politics instead of catching the real culprits. They have only four months left. Let them play as much politics as they want. We will identify the real guilty people."
What CM Bhagwant Mann Said
During his address in Mukerian, CM Bhagwant Mann launched a sharp attack on Sukhbir Badal.
He said, "Sukhbir Badal probably sees Bhagwant Mann even in his dreams. He keeps saying, 'Give me my turn.' Sukhbir Singh, listen carefully—now it is your turn, and your brother-in-law's turn, not to rule, but to go to jail. Those responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Sahib cannot escape."
Mann also alleged that during the Akali Dal government, the case was deliberately weakened. "Later, when the Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh came to power, they joined hands and ensured no action was taken. We spent a long time correcting those cases. God's justice may be slow, but it is precise," he said.
The Chief Minister further criticized the Akali Dal for opposing the proposed anti-sacrilege law, saying the party had ample opportunity to enact such legislation when it was in power.
Recent Developments in the SIT Investigation
The SIT has intensified its probe in recent weeks:
Crime Scene Recreation: In early July 2026, the newly constituted SIT, headed by DIG Harjit Singh, revisited the incident sites at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, Bargari, and Behbal Kalan in Faridkot district. The team recreated the sequence of events, matched evidence, and inspected the Bajakhana police station, where the case diary and related records are preserved.
Statement of Akal Takht Jathedar: In June 2026, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh recorded his statement before the SIT. The statement was linked to the unconditional apology offered by Sukhbir Singh Badal before the Akal Takht in December 2024.
Questioning of Political Leaders and Officials: During June and July 2026, the SIT questioned former Union Minister and BJP leader Vijay Sampla, former OSD Gagandeep Singh Brar, former Deputy Commissioner Malvinder Singh Jaggi, and SAD leader Mantar Singh Brar as part of the ongoing investigation.
Background of the Case
The investigation is based on two FIRs registered at Bajakhana Police Station on October 14 and October 21, 2015, following the sacrilege incidents and the subsequent police firing at Behbal Kalan. The incidents had a significant impact on Punjab's political landscape and social fabric. The SIT is now conducting face-to-face questioning of key individuals in an effort to establish the complete sequence of events and determine accountability.