The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has alleged a connection between Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar and Narain Singh Chaura, who is accused in the assassination attempt on SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple. The allegations surfaced after CCTV footage shared by SAD General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia purportedly showed a senior police officer shaking hands with Chaura before the incident.

Majithia posted the footage on X (formerly Twitter) and accused the Punjab Police of complicity in the attack. “In this video, your SP Harpal is seen shaking hands with terrorist Narain Chaura. Was it all a conspiracy by Punjab Police with your involvement? Will you arrest SP Harpal and the other officers involved?” Majithia demanded. He called for an independent inquiry by the Supreme Court into the alleged links between Bhullar, SP Harpal, and AIG Jagjit Walia.

Responding to the allegations, Commissioner Bhullar stated that the investigation is considering all possibilities, including whether the attack was orchestrated to gain sympathy. “Even if this attack was staged to gain sympathy, I have got a lot of questions about this. So, we are looking at a number of angles,” Bhullar remarked.

The controversy arises amidst ongoing political tensions surrounding the sacrilege cases that occurred during the Akali Dal-led government from 2007 to 2017. Chaura, a vocal critic of the SAD, has repeatedly accused the party of betraying the Sikh community and misusing the Akal Takht Sahib for political gains.

In a Facebook post in July, Chaura condemned the SAD’s leadership, stating that their apology for past actions could not undo the harm caused during their tenure. “This party is an enemy of the Panth and no longer has the right to lead the Sikh community in the political arena,” he wrote.

The attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal occurred while he was serving religious punishment imposed by the Akal Takht over lapses during his tenure, including the mishandling of sacrilege cases. Chaura has previously justified the killings of some individuals linked to these cases, citing the lack of justice for sacrilege incidents under the Akali government.

The allegations of police involvement have intensified calls for transparency and accountability, with political observers warning of further escalation in the politically sensitive state. Punjab Police have yet to issue an official response to the claims.