Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal, appeared before a Special Investigation Team on Saturday for questioning in Chandigarh [1, 2].
The interrogation marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing incident [1]. Because the probe involves a former deputy chief minister, the outcome could shift the political landscape in Punjab and impact the current administration's standing regarding human rights and police accountability.
Badal reported to the Punjab Police Officers Institute in Sector 32, where the SIT is conducting its inquiry [1, 2]. The investigation is led by DIG Harjeet Singh [1, 2]. The team is examining the events of the police firing that took place in 2015 [1].
During the process, Badal said the investigation is a political vendetta orchestrated by the Aam Aadmi Party government [1]. He has previously maintained that the legal actions against him are motivated by political rivalry rather than criminal evidence [1, 2].
While some reports from YouTube sources mentioned Prakash Singh Badal, verified news articles confirm the individual appearing before the SIT was Sukhbir Singh Badal [1, 2]. The focus of the questioning remains the chain of command, and the decisions made during the 2015 incident [1].
This appearance follows a series of summons issued by the SIT as it attempts to finalize its report on the Behbal Kalan case. The investigation seeks to determine who authorized the use of force during the protests that occurred nearly a decade ago [1, 2].
“Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before the SIT”
The questioning of a high-ranking former official like Sukhbir Singh Badal signals that the Punjab government is pursuing top-level accountability for the 2015 Behbal Kalan incident. By targeting the former Deputy Chief Minister, the current administration is attempting to link the police actions of the past to the political leadership of the time. This creates a volatile environment where legal outcomes will likely be viewed through a partisan lens, further deepening the divide between the SAD and the AAP.
