The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, June 12, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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Giani Kewal Singh may quit
High Priests hold in-camera meeting
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 11
Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, is under tremendous pressure to resign following issuance of non-bailable warrants against him in connection with the alleged suicide by his daughter-in-law.

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib and Giani Kewal Singh today held an informal in-camera meeting at Jalandhar to take stock of the situation which arose after the warrants were issued by a Talwandi Sabo court. Jathedar Vedanti who had gone to attend a religious festival at Dera Baba Sarwan Dass Balan on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road had called Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh at a private house in Jalandhar. They discussed at length the probable “religious crisis” if Giani Kewal Singh failed to resign.

It is for the first time that warrants have issued against a serving jathedar of a takht. Panthic sources said if Giani Kewal Singh failed to tender his resignation, it would be difficult for him to attend the meetings of the Sikh clergy. The sources close to Giani Kewal Singh said he had made up his mind to resign after being summoned by the Talwandi Sabo court. However, his “well-wishers” had suggested that he should wait till the outcome of the revision petition filed in the Bathinda sessions court. Nobody had thought warrants would be issued against him.

Panthic circles said if Bibi Jagir Kaur could be removed unceremoniously when her name figured in the FIR of the CBI why should Giani Kewal Singh be allowed to continue as Jathedar.

In the 397-year history of takht, no jathedar had appeared in any court so far. Bhai Ranjit Singh who was to appear before the Delhi High Court had announced that he would not appear as Jathedar Akal Takht at that time.

Giani Kewal Singh is facing another inquiry by the SGPC. Whole placing Bhai Ranjit singh under suspension as Jathedar Akal Takht, the pro-Badal executive had ordered a probe against Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh. However, the inquiry could not be completed by the SGPC due to various reasons.

The sources said Jathedar Vedanti, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh might meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to seek his help to evade an arrest. Earlier too, the three jathedars had met Mr Badal last week when the court summoned Giani Kewal Singh for appearance today. However, Mr Badal was helpless as the matter was in court.

Non-bailable warrants against Jathedar
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, June 11
Mr Jatinder Singh Bheniwal, Judicial Magistrate, today issued non-bailable warrants against the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, his son Barjinder Singh and a close kin, Joginder Kaur, after they failed to appear in court today following issuance of summons to them in connection with a dowry death case registered at the local police station.

Information gathered by TNS from reliable sources said Mr Bheniwal had directed the local DSP, Mr Raghbir Singh Chahal, to personally execute the warrants issued to the three accused of forcing Sharanjit Kaur to commit suicide. The next date of hearing is June 15.

Mr Bheniwal had earlier issued summons to Giani Kewal Singh, Barjinder Singh, husband of the deceased Sharanjit Kaur, and Joginder Kaur, on June 2 for appearance in his court, rejected an application moved by the police for cancelling the FIR registered against them.

Mr Chand Singh, the then Station House Officer (SHO), Talwandi Sabo, had moved an application for cancellation of the FIR on the plea that all three had been found innocent following an inquiry into the case whose findings had been endorsed by the DSP and the SSP.

Giani Kewal Singh, Barjinder Singh and Joginder Kaur were booked under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court when approached by Mr Amarjit Singh, brother of the deceased, through a writ petition.

The High Court directed the district police chief to register a case against Giani Kewal Singh, Barjinder Singh and Joginder kaur.

Though the case was registered about one-and-a-half-year ago, the accused were not arrested by the police. The police authorities, which conducted the investigations into the case, gave a clean chit to them.

Sharanjit Kaur was married to Barjinder Singh in 1996. She was found dead on May 18, 1997.

Her body was found floating in the sarovar of Likhan Sar Gurdwara in front of the residence of Giani Kewal Singh.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that Barjinder Singh, husband of the deceased, had moved an application in the Sessions Court for bail and revision of the order.

The date for hearing on this application has been fixed for June 14. The Sessions Court has summoned the file of the case at Bathinda from Talwandi Sabo.

The death of Sharanjit Kaur under mysterious circumstances within a year of her marriage did not motivate the police authorities to take action against her in-laws as her father-in-law then was close to senior Akali leaders.

Later, Giani Kewal Singh became close to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal when differences surfaced between Mr Badal and former SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra on the issue of removal of Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht.

Legal experts opine that if the Sessions Court does not order a stay, the accused will have to seek anticipatory bail.

A police official said so far the DSP’s office had not received any order from the Judicial Magistrate in connection with the execution of the non-bailable warrants against the accused.