Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal: Arrest of key accused stayed

“In response to the arguments addressed by learned State counsel, counsel for the petitioner contends that the State has not submitted the complete and accurate status of the CCTV footage. He argues that if the full footage is reviewed, it will be evident that on the day of the incident, the main accused, namely Narain Singh, had spoken to SP Harpal Singh as well as to one Harjinder Singh Dhami. Let a status report, in the form of an affidavit by a responsible officer, be filed on the next date of hearing after reviewing the complete CCTV footage and verifying the submissions addressed today by the counsel for the petitioner before this Court,” reads the court order.

Chaura allegedly fired at Badal while serving his tankhaiya (religious punishment) at the shrine. Majithia has accused the police of colluding in the attack and failing to conduct a fair investigation, highlighting Dharam Singh’s alleged past connections with Chaura.

In the CCTV footage, Chaura was seen with Dharam Singh before the attack.

The petition seeking relief for Dharam Singh argued that he was being unfairly targeted and that the police investigation was biased.

His lawyer, Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, claimed that key evidence, including CCTV footage from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), was being withheld to protect influential figures.

“Chaura told us that SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami stopped and hugged him inside the Darbar Sahib premises on December 4. He provided an estimated time and location of their meeting,” said Manjhpur.

He added, “Chaura and Dhami know each other, and this is likely why the SGPC has been reluctant to share the CCTV footage with the police. We fear the SGPC might delete footage showing Dhami embracing Chaura.”

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 5.