PTC Web Desk:  Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case. He was questioned for nearly two hours at the Punjab Police Institute in Chandigarh.

After the questioning, Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the SIT was being used for political purposes rather than to identify the real culprits.

'This is the fourth time I have appeared'

Addressing the media after his appearance, Sukhbir Singh Badal said this was the fourth time he had been summoned by the SIT and that he had cooperated with the investigation on every occasion. "As the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, I believe every investigation should identify the real offenders. However, this SIT has not been formed to catch the guilty but to fight a political battle," he said.

'Probe has dragged on for 11 years'

Sukhbir Singh Badal questioned the pace of the investigation, pointing out that nearly 11 years had passed since the incident.

"Five years of the Congress government and five years of the Aam Aadmi Party government have gone by, yet the SIT has not completed its investigation. In ordinary murder cases, the accused are identified quickly, but here it appears the purpose is only to create headlines by summoning Sukhbir  SinghBadal," he said.

He further claimed that the entire exercise was political, alleging that his party's growing influence had made political opponents nervous.

Supporters gather outside venue

Despite rain, several SAD supporters gathered outside the Punjab Police Institute during Sukhbir Badal's appearance, raising slogans in his support. Arrangements for food were also made for those present, while the Chandigarh Police deployed heavy security around the area.

The SIT had issued a summons to Sukhbir Singh Badal on July 16.

Akali leaders term summons an 'election stunt'

Senior Akali leader Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer described the summons as an election stunt, saying previous governments had also summoned Sukhbir Singh Badal but failed to produce concrete results.

Another SAD leader alleged that the sacrilege issue had been politicised for years, claiming that pressing public concerns such as education, unemployment and Punjab's financial condition were being sidelined.

CM Bhagwant Mann's remarks

The latest questioning comes days after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, during a public rally in Mukerian on July 15, made sharp remarks against Sukhbir Singh Badal. CM Mann said that it was now Sukhbir Singh Badal's turn to face legal action over the 2015 sacrilege-related incidents.

Investigation linked to 2015 cases

The SIT investigation is based on two FIRs registered at Bajakhana Police Station on October 14 and October 21, 2015. The cases relate to the sacrilege incidents and the subsequent police firing at Behbal Kalan, events that had a significant political and social impact in Punjab.