JALANDHAR, Oct 8 — Dalwinder Kaur’s bungalow at Phagwara, Jasdil Mansion, which has been in the eye of the storm on account of its alleged direct link with the death of the daughter of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, was once again raided by a team of the special branch of the CBI today.

Dalwinder Kaur, said to be a close friend of Bibi Jagir Kaur, has already been arrested and interrogated by the CBI along with her driver Harbinder Kumar and two servants — Satya Devi and Sanjiv Kumar — after an FIR was lodged in the case on the directive of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Kamaljit Singh, a youth of Begowal village in Kapurthala district, who has been claiming to be the husband of Harpreet Kaur, had alleged the latter had been “killed” in the bungalow by the accused at the behest of Bibi Jagir Kaur.

At least 14 officials of the CBI today swarmed the bungalow in the Taru da Wara locality of Phagwara at around 10.15 a.m. and remained there for about two hours during which they conducted a massive search operation inside the building. While the operation by the CBI sleuths was on, nobody was allowed to move out or enter the building. Sanjiv Kumar and Satya Devi also accompanied the CBI team which included four women officials, sources said.

After entering the building, the CBI officials, who descended on the scene in a bus and an Ambassador car, bolted the main door from inside and carried out a search in the rooms of Sanjiv and Satya Devi in the servants’ quarters block of the building.

Interestingly, Satya Devi’s husband Bhag Mal, who is the caretaker of the palatial bungalow, was not present and had not reportedly returned “from the market” till the team left the bungalow at around 12.15 p.m., said Kamal, another servant, who claimed he was present during the search operation.

He said the officials did not allow him to approach the two rooms while they were searching these in the presence of Sanjiv Kumar and Satya Kumari. He said the two servants and the CBI officials were seen whispering to each other and kept talking in a hushed tone. It could not be ascertained whether the search had yielded any evidence or clue relating to Harpreet’s death, which, according to the complainant, had occurred inside the bungalow.

AMRITSAR, Oct 8 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President Shiromani Akali Dal, has maintained a studied silence after registration of an FIR by the CBI against Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, and six others in connection with the mysterious death of Harpreet Kaur.

Sources in the SAD said that Mr Badal was in a dilemma over the issue as he himself had attended the cremation of Harpreet, aimed at ‘destroying’ the circumstantial evidence which resulted in her unnatural death.

Apart from this, the Sikh clergy, including Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht had not given any signal of taking action which could oblige the detractors of Bibi Jagir Kaur, Giani Joginder Singh had evaded a direct query in this regard when this correspondent had asked him whether Akal Takht would direct Bibi Jagir Kaur to step down as the SGPC chief in wake of the FIR registered against her.

According to radical Sikhs when issue of the SGPC chief would be taken to Akal Takht, Jathedars would avoid taking any action against them. Bhai Ranjit Singh the then Jathedar, Akal Takht, had failed to pronounce ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to the then SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, even though PPCC President Amarinder Singh had submitted concrete evidence to Akal Takht about his protégé, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, during the Lok Sabha elections. Bhai Ranjit Singh had ‘bailed out’ Mr Tohra which had attracted criticism from Sikh circles.

Similarly, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti was unlikely to take action against Bibi Jagir Kaur unless she was convicted in the ‘mysterious death’ of her daughter. Sources said that Giani Joginder Singh had not enough ‘guts’ to entertain any complaint against Bibi Jagir Kaur, at least in the near future. He (Giani Joginder Singh) was aware of the fate of then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh who had “excommunicated” her on January 25.

Sources said that Mr Badal was also resorting to ‘wait and watch’ policy in this case. Though Mr Badal did feel that the gains of Sunam byelection were being negated after the registration of the FIR against Bibi Jagir Kaur yet he was in a dilemma so far as seeking of resignation from Bibi Jagir Kaur was concerned. Bibi Jagir Kaur was also an MLA who enjoyed support of few legislatures. Mr Badal’s indecisiveness was understandable as Bibi Jagir Kaur was his nominee who had replaced Akali stalwart Mr Tohra before celebrations of tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa Panth amid fanfare. Above all, Mr Badal was not finding a suitable candidate to replace Bibi Jagir Kaur. Any alternative at this juncture could open the Pandora’s box.

Though Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannu, senior Vice-President, could officiate as acting president, Mr Badal was not willing to oblige him due to his close relations with Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Coorperation Minister. The ‘Kairon family’ insisted that Mr Badal should not appoint Mr Pannu as next president as it would strengthen their political opponent Mr Brahmpura in the Majha region.

Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister, Industries, was also a strong aspirant for the coveted post. The Akali stalwart, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, would also take his claim for the presidentship of the SGPC.

On the other hand Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, General Secretary and Mr Kewal Singh Badal, Vice-President, SGPC, and son of Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal may also join the race.

Meanwhile, Bibi Jagir Kaur had asked the managers of various gurdwaras to seek the support of SGPC members of their areas in her favour.