The commission set up by Punjab government will probe the role of Akshay Kumar in getting Akal Takht’s ‘pardon’ for Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. (File)
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the police firing incidents in the wake of the Bargari desecration case has summoned SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and actor Akshay Kumar for questioning in connection with the investigation next week.
While Badal has been asked to appear before the SIT on November 16, Sukhbir has been summoned on November 19 and Akshay Kumar has been asked to appear on November 21, at the Circuit House in Amritsar.
The Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission which was constituted by Amarinder Singh government to probe incidents of desecration and police firing had recorded a statement of a person who claimed that Akshay Kumar mediated in getting Akal Takht’s ‘pardon’ for Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said the Badals and Akshay Kumar were summoned on the basis of “independent investigations” being done by the SIT.
The orders have been issued separately for the three, on behalf of SIT, by its member, IG (Organised Crime Control Unit) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.
Singh said the summons relate to “investigation of cases originating from the various incidents of desecration in 2015 [FIR No. 129, dated 07.08.2018 under Section 307, 323, 341, 148, 149 IPC and 27 Arms Act PS City Kotkapura (District Faridkot)]”.
The summons have been issued under Section 160 of CrPC, requiring attendance at investigation, relating to the Bargari sacrilege case and the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing incidents.
It says, “the presence of the aforesaid person is necessary for the purpose of inquiry into the above-mentioned offence” and the person summoned needed “to give such information relating to the said alleged offence as he may possess.”
The SIT had earlier examined ADGP Jitendra Jain, then IG Bathinda; IG Paramraj Singh Umaranangal; then Commissioner Ludhiana; IG Amar Singh Chahal, then DIG Ferozepur Range; MS Jaggi, then DC Faridkot; SS Mann, then SSP Faridkot; VK Syal then SDM Faridkot, besides Mantar Singh Brar, then Kotkapura MLA.
In addition, 50 private individuals and more than 30 police officials of junior rank were examined.
The five-member SIT was set up by the Amarinder Singh government in September this year.