Punjab SIT probing sacrilege calls Akshay Kumar for questioning
CHANDIGARH:: The Punjab police’s special investigation team (SIT), probing the cases of sacrilege of the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, on Monday summoned actor Akshay Kumar, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, for questioning. The sacrilege had triggered protests across Punjab and two people were killed when police fired on protest marches in Faridkot.
A retired justice Ranjit Singhled inquiry commission had found that the sacrilege was linked to the pardon that the Akal Takht, the chief centre of the Sikh religious authority, had granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim over the blasphemy charges. Rahim faced the charges in 2007 for dressing like Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son had allegedly secured the pardon for him. Kumar had allegedly mediated between the Badals and Rahim for the pardon.
The commission indicated the involvement of Rahim’s followers in the sacrilege cases. It concluded the pardon “played the role of catalyst in the sacrilege incidents” in 2015
The SIT has summoned Kumar to Amritsar on November 21 to record his statement over his alleged links with Rahim, who was convicted of rape in August 2017.
Kumar tweeted a statement denying any links with Rahim on Monday. He dismissed as “rumours and false statements” being made “loosely on the social media” about his involvement with Rahim in context with a “fictitious meeting” with Sukhbir Badal. He said he has never met Rahim.
The commission referred to former MLA Harbans Jalal’s letter dated October 9, 2017, saying that the meeting purportedly took place at Kumar’s Mumbai residence for the release of Rahim’s movie, MSG-2, in Punjab.
The movie was released in Punjab after the pardon, which was later revoked following backlash from Sikh organisations. .
SIT member Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said they issued the summons based on the evidence they have recorded.
“A tweet cannot be taken as a statement. Kumar will have to appear in person to answer questions.”