The Supreme Court has dismissed accusations of fraud and cheating against the late Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former chief minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal. The case brought by a court in Punjab against Badal and his son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, was deemed an “abuse of process of law” and a “fit cause for quashing the entire proceedings.” The allegations were that the SAD submitted a fraudulent assurance to the Election Commission of India to get recognition.
In 2009, social activist Balwant Singh Khera complained about the Badals and Daljit Singh Cheema, claiming that the SAD had two constitutions. One was submitted to the Gurdwara Election Commission, and another was submitted to the Elections Commission of India (ECI) to apply for recognition as a political party. According to Mr. Khera, the SAD represented to the ECI that it had changed its constitution to include socialism and secularism, but continued to operate as a “Panthic” party and take part in elections for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Justice M.R. Shah noted that none of the elements of the offences for which the Badals were accused and charged were present in the facts of the case. The Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected the Badals’ and others’ appeal of the summons order issued by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Hoshiarpur on August 27, 2021.
