Akal Takht expels 2 from Khalsa Panth

The Akal Takht expelled Amarjit Singh Chawla and Giani Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth after a meeting of five Sikh head priests. The order bars both men from religious activities at Sikh institutions and reflects the gravity of the allegations against them.

In Short

• Five Sikh head priests met at the Akal Takht secretariat on Sunday
• Chawla resigned from SGPC and SAD posts after the FIR
• He denied the allegations, calling the complaint false and fabricated

The Akal Takht on Sunday expelled former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Amarjit Singh Chawla and additional head granthi Giani Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth.

The decision was announced after a meeting of five Sikh head priests at the Akal Takht secretariat. The Jathedar also directed the Sikh community to maintain distance from both men and not allow them to participate in religious activities at any Sikh institution.

The action against Chawla came days after he was booked in Anandpur Sahib on charges of rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman.

After the FIR was registered, Chawla resigned as an SGPC member and as senior vice-president of the Shiromani Akali Dal. He denied the allegations and said they were false and fabricated.

The Jathedar expelled Chawla from the Sikh fold for his alleged violation of Sikh tenets and directed the Sikh community not to associate him with religious activities in Sikh institutions.

Giani Malkit Singh, Additional Head Granthi of Akal Takht Sahib, was also expelled from the Khalsa Panth.

The same directions were issued in his case, with the Sikh community asked to maintain distance from him and not allow him to participate in religious activities at any Sikh institution.

Malkit Singh, along with another person, was accused of sending vulgar messages to the woman complainant.

The meeting was attended by five Sikh head priests: Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Jathedar of the Akal Takht; Giani Kewal Singh, priest at the Golden Temple; Gurbaksh Singh, priest at the Akal Takht; Tek Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib; and Mangal Singh, a member of the Panj Pirara group of the Akal Takht.

Following the meeting, the Akal Takht announced the expulsion of both Chawla and Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth and directed the Sikh community to keep them away from religious activities at Sikh institutions.

- Ends