Punjab News:₹1 Lakh Transferred From SGPC Secretary’s Account to Bahrain Woman’s Account in July; Harjinder Dhami Must Explain Where Sangat’s Money Was Spent: Baltej Pannu

Who Transferred ₹1 Lakh From SGPC Secretary’s Account To Bahrain Woman’s Account? SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Must Answer: Baltej Pannu

Who Brought Bahrain Woman to SGPC Sarai, Why Was She Kept There for 8 Months and Who Paid Her Expenses? Sukhbir Badal Must Answer: Baltej Pannu

Junior Committee Cannot Question Senior People; Inquiry Should Be Handed To Retired Judge Or Senior Police Officer: Baltej Pannu

Sikh Sangat Will Not Forget This Matter; Sukhbir Singh Badal & Harjinder Singh Dhami Must Answer: Baltej Pannu

Why Are Sukhbir Badal, Harsimrat Kaur, Bikram Majithia and Harjinder Dhami Silent on Bahrain Woman’s Case? Baltej Pannu

If Harjinder Dhami Has Answers, Why Is He Running Away From Media Questions on SGPC Sarai Case? Baltej Pannu

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary and Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Tuesday questioned the continued silence of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, as well as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, over the allegations raised by a woman from Bahrain regarding her stay at an SGPC-run sarai at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Baltej Pannu said he had already held nearly four press conferences on the matter, but the questions raised by the Sikh sangat remained unanswered.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Harsimrat Kaur Badal is participating in programmes and rallies around women’s issues, but there is complete silence on the allegations concerning the woman who stayed in the SGPC sarai for several months. Why is she not answering these questions? Why is there silence when questions are being raised about the treatment of a woman and the use of SGPC resources?”

Baltej Pannu said, “Bikram Singh Majithia is also putting out videos instead of holding press conferences where he would have to face questions from journalists. If Bikram Singh Majithia has answers, he should come before the media and answer the questions.”

Questioning Harjinder Singh Dhami, Baltej Pannu said, “Dhami Sahib has also put out a video instead of facing the media. Today, when the media asked him questions in Patiala, he again said that he would not answer anything about this matter because he had come there for another matter. When will Harjinder Singh Dhami hold a press conference and answer these questions?”

The AAP Punjab Media In-charge pointed out, “This is not an ordinary political controversy. Questions are being raised about an SGPC institution, SGPC resources and the manner in which a woman was accommodated there for months. The Sikh sangat has every right to ask questions and receive clear answers.”

Baltej Pannu questioned the four-member inquiry committee constituted by the SGPC and said, “I had raised this question in my previous press conference as well: how will junior people question senior people?”

He said, “The woman has said that she conveyed everything to Harjinder Singh Dhami and Sukhbir Singh Badal. Will this committee question Harjinder Singh Dhami? Will it question Sukhbir Singh Badal? Will it examine what they knew, when they knew it and what action was taken?”

The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said, “If the SGPC genuinely wants a proper investigation, then it should be entrusted to experienced people. A retired Sikh judge or a retired senior police officer could have been asked to conduct the inquiry. Neither are these junior members experts in law nor are they experts in administration. How can a matter involving senior people be properly investigated without an independent and experienced inquiry?”

Baltej Pannu said the SGPC had given the inquiry committee 15 days to submit its report, but questioned whether the move was simply intended to push the matter into the background. “The SGPC has given the committee 15 days. Is the idea that after 10 or 15 days the matter will go into the background and people will forget it? People will not forget this matter. The Sikh community across the world is talking about it, and the issue is also being discussed by Punjabi media channels,” he said.

He said, “The questions will remain even after 15 days. They will remain after 10 days and they will remain after 10 months unless proper answers are given.”

Baltej Pannu questioned, “Who brought this woman to the SGPC sarai? Why was she kept there for months? Who provided her accommodation and facilities? Who paid for them? What was the role of Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer? What was the role of Virsa Singh Valtoha? These are basic questions and the SGPC must answer them.”

The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said, “This matter is particularly serious because the sarai, the vehicle, the driver and the sewadars involved were connected with the SGPC. If SGPC resources were used, then the SGPC must place the complete expenditure before the Sikh sangat.”

Baltej Pannu made a fresh revelation in the matter, saying, “On July 23, 2026, ₹1 lakh was transferred from an account in the name of the SGPC Secretary at Punjab National Bank to the account of the woman from Bahrain. Why was this ₹1 lakh transferred? For what purpose was it given? Who authorised this payment? Under which head was this money transferred? The SGPC must answer these questions.”

“Is there any bigger proof than this? The FIR itself was a major piece of evidence, but nobody answered those questions. Now this is a transaction from an SGPC account to the account of the same woman who made the allegations. Why was this ₹1 lakh transferred? For what purpose was it given?” Baltej Pannu asked.

Baltej Pannu said, “This is only one transaction. What about other payments? What about cash expenses? What about the expenses incurred on her accommodation, food, travel and other facilities? The vehicle was provided by the SGPC, its fuel was paid by the SGPC, the driver was paid by the SGPC and the sewadars were SGPC employees. Apart from this, if she was also being given money for personal expenses, the entire expenditure for those eight months must be accounted for.”

Baltej Pannu demanded that the SGPC disclose the complete expenditure incurred in connection with the woman’s stay and explain who authorised each payment.

The AAP Punjab Media In-charge stated, “The Sikh sangat contributes its hard-earned money to the SGPC with faith and devotion. An ordinary Sikh family may be able to contribute only ₹10 or ₹20 at a time. If you count ₹10 contributions, ₹1 lakh represents 10,000 people who may have put their money in the golak with faith. How can that money simply be transferred to someone’s account? The SGPC must answer. This is the money of the Sikh sangat and there must be complete accountability for every rupee.”

He also questioned the broader functioning of SGPC institutions. “People have heard allegations and controversies relating to expenses and functioning at various SGPC institutions over the years, including the dry rotis matter, the sabji matter during Covid and the building matter. But this case has raised particularly serious questions because the facility involved was directly under the control of the SGPC. The answer cannot simply be that an inquiry committee has been formed. The Sikh sangat wants to know who took the decisions, who authorised the expenditure and who was responsible for the facilities provided.”

Baltej Pannu also questioned the political influence over the SGPC and said, “Harjinder Singh Dhami has himself publicly described himself as a ‘soldier’ of Sukhbir Singh Badal. So today the question is simple: will Harjinder Singh Dhami answer the questions being raised about the use of SGPC resources and the woman’s stay?”

He said, “Sukhbir Singh Badal must also explain what he knew about this matter. If the woman says that she conveyed everything to Sukhbir Singh Badal, then Sukhbir Singh Badal should come before the media and clarify his position.”

Baltej Pannu said, “These institutions were built with sacrifices. The Sikh sangat across the world contributes to them. They do not contribute so that you can bring a woman to an SGPC sarai, keep her there for eight months, harass her and nobody tells the sangat why she was kept there or for what purpose. The Sikh sangat has the right to know how its institutions are being run. It has the right to know how its money is being spent. Nobody has the right to treat the sangat’s contributions as personal or political resources.”

Baltej Pannu further questioned the role of those who, according to him, arranged the woman’s travel and brought her to Punjab. “Who arranged her travel? Who brought her to Punjab? Who received her? Who arranged her accommodation? Who instructed the SGPC staff? These questions cannot be brushed aside. Sukhbir Badal should explain what he knew. Harjinder Singh Dhami should explain what he knew. Those who arranged her travel and stay should also be questioned. The Sikh sangat deserves a complete account of what happened.

He also questioned why SGPC elections had not been held for 11 years. “Why have SGPC elections not been held for 11 years? Why is the Sikh sangat being kept away from choosing its representatives? These are questions that the Sikh sangat and Sikh intellectuals must ask,” Baltej Pannu said.

Baltej Pannu pointed out that the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) had reached an understanding with the BJP under which it would seek minimum seats for the Vidhan Sabha elections while retaining control over the SGPC. “The Sikh sangat and Sikh intellectuals must ask how the institution is being run and how its funds are being used. These institutions belong to the Sikh sangat, not to any individual or political family,” he said.

He said, “Today, Dhami Sahib again ran away from the questions. He did not answer them. He may think that if he does not answer for 10 or 15 days, people will forget. People will not forget. Sukhbir Badal and Harjinder Singh Dhami will continue to face these questions. The Sikh sangat will continue to demand answers. The matter will not disappear simply because an inquiry committee has been given 15 days,” Baltej Pannu said.

Baltej Pannu reiterated that the SGPC must provide a complete account of the woman’s stay, the use of its resources, the alleged ₹1 lakh transfer and the roles of all those whose names have been raised in connection with the matter. “The Sikh sangat is asking questions. Instead of making videos, instead of avoiding journalists and instead of waiting for 15 days, those responsible should come before the media and answer every question,” he said. Tv