Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh) — The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday sharply criticized Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami for seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into a woman’s eight-month stay at an SGPC-run sarai in Sri Anandpur Sahib, questioning why the apex Sikh body is resisting cooperation with the Punjab Police.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu urged Dhami to stop deflecting accountability and immediately hand over all relevant documentation to state investigators. Pannu questioned why an outside agency is being sought when the crucial evidence—including guest registers, financial logs, and details regarding an assigned vehicle and attendant—remains entirely within the SGPC’s custody.
Pannu pressed the SGPC president to provide clear answers regarding why the woman was brought to the historic town, who authorized her prolonged stay, and why the committee funded her day-to-day expenditures. He stressed that Dhami had failed to clarify the alleged transfer of 100,000 rupees from an official SGPC account directly to the woman.
Expressing skepticism over the push for a federal agency, Pannu pointed to the CBI’s handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases, which ultimately ended with a closure report. He warned that transferring the case away from the Punjab Police appears to be a calculated attempt to shelve the issue and allow public memory to fade. Unlike past controversies involving community kitchen provisions or construction contracts, Pannu stated that this matter touches the sanctity of a revered religious centre and cannot simply be swept under the carpet.
The AAP leader also highlighted apparent contradictions in the stance of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Referring to remarks by party leader Bunty Romana—who stated that the woman was initially advised by Sukhbir Singh Badal to approach the police—Pannu asked why the leadership is now advocating for the CBI instead of assisting the local police investigation.
Calling on the SGPC leadership to practice transparency rather than evasion, Pannu urged the immediate release of all administrative records to the Punjab Police and condemned the ongoing harassment of the woman across social media platforms.
