2017 defamation case: District court cancels Sukhbir Badal’s bail, issues non-bailable warrant

Advocate P I P Singh, counsel for complainant Rajinder Pal Singh, said Badal remained absent during the hearing, following which the court cancelled his bail and issued a non-bailable warrant. The next date of hearing has been fixed for January 9, 2026. The court cautioned that stricter orders could be passed if Badal does not appear on the next date.

As per the case, the complainant had alleged that the SAD chief made defamatory statements to media channels, claiming that Akhand Kirtani Jatha was a political front of the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International. The remarks were widely published in newspapers and broadcast on television channels, allegedly causing serious damage to the reputation of the organisation, according to the complainant.

In his petition, Rajinder Pal Singh also cited a specific statement attributed to Badal, in which he allegedly told the media: “…Kejriwal comes to Punjab and starts liaising with radicals. The day before yesterday he was having breakfast with Akhand Kirtani Jatha which is a political front of Babbar Khalsa International, which is the biggest terrorist organisation…”

The case dates back to January 4, 2017, when former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had visited Rajinder Pal Singh’s residence in Delhi. Following the meeting, Badal’s alleged remarks triggered the defamation complaint in the Chandigarh district court.