A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) submitted a memorandum to Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday, seeking an independent and high-level special investigation team (SIT) to probe the rape allegations against former Akali leader and ex-SGPC member Amarjeet Singh Chawla and examine the complainant’s allegations regarding the purported involvement of senior SGPC and SAD (Badal) functionaries.
In the memorandum, the delegation referred to an FIR registered on August 21 at Anandpur Sahib police station and sought an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the “objectionable” words used by Akali leader Virsa Singh Valtoha against the rape survivor and the disclosure of her identity, the Punjab State Commission for Women has asked the police to probe the matter and submit an action-taken report by September 26. Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said the matter came to the commission’s notice through a news report, following which a letter was issued to the director general of police and the director of the Bureau of Investigation, along with the link to the news report/video and a copy of the screenshot.
The delegation further alleged that some senior SAD (Badal) leaders named by the complainant had publicly questioned her and cast aspersions on her character rather than cooperating with the investigation.
