Amritsar: The political fallout surrounding the rape allegations against former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Amarjit Singh Chawla escalated sharply on Friday after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made public an alleged audio recording featuring senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Virsa Singh Valtoha in conversation with the complainant.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, AAP Punjab General Secretary and media in-charge Baltej Pannu released the audio clip, escalating pressure on both the SAD leadership and SGPC authorities over the handling of the case.
Scrutiny Over Extended Sarai Stay and Financial Dealings
Pannu alleged that the audio clip references intervals spanning seven to eight months and points toward monetary transactions involving the Bahrain-based complainant. AAP raised pointed questions regarding the circumstances under which the woman was brought from Bahrain to Punjab and permitted to reside for months across SGPC-managed inns (sarais) in Sri Anandpur Sahib.
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Timeline of Stay: According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Anandpur Sahib police station on August 21, the complainant returned from Bahrain on November 17, 2025. She was lodged at a sarai affiliated with Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib from February 27 to August 16, 2026, before being relocated to another inn.
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Driver’s Statement: Police inquiries revealed that an SGPC driver questioned during the probe stated the complainant remained at various inns for roughly eight months, with Chawla allegedly arranging her lodging, meals, and local transit. Investigators are currently corroborating these claims.
Pressure on SGPC and SAD Leadership
Pannu voiced strong skepticism regarding the internal committee instituted by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, asserting that an internal mechanism cannot substitute for an impartial probe.
The developments follow Dhami’s appeal on October 1 urging the Punjab Government to transfer the criminal investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing apprehensions over police impartiality, while maintaining that the SGPC’s internal panel would address administrative lapses.
Directing questions at Dhami and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, Pannu demanded clarity on:
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Who facilitated the woman’s travel from Bahrain to Punjab.
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How she secured prolonged institutional accommodation on gurdwara premises without regulatory intervention.
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Whether top Akali Dal leaders were aware of her presence and the alleged financial exchanges.
Background of the Probe
The legal trouble stems from allegations by the woman accusing Chawla of rape, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation at an Anandpur Sahib sarai. Chawla has categorically refuted the charges, labeling the complaint fabricated and politically motivated. Following the registration of the FIR:
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Chawla stepped down from his executive posts in both the SGPC and SAD.
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The Akal Takht initiated disciplinary measures against him.
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The SGPC formally accepted his resignation while ordering a departmental review.
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the logistical arrangements, travel funding, and administrative lapses tied to the complainant’s stay. The authenticity of the audio recording released by AAP remains unverified by independent forensic examination.
