Chandigarh — A Chandigarh district court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, for his repeated failure to appear in a defamation case dating back to 2017.
The order was passed on Wednesday by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rahul Garg, who canceled the bail previously granted to Badal due to his absence from court proceedings. The warrant marks an escalation in the legal proceedings and significantly restricts Badal’s legal options, as non-bailable warrants allow for arrest and detention without the possibility of immediate bail.
Background of the Case
The defamation case was filed by Rajinder Pal Singh, spokesperson of the religious organization Akhand Kirtani Jatha, against Badal over statements made in January 2017. The controversy arose following a meeting between then-Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rajinder Pal Singh on January 4, 2017.
According to court documents, Badal made objectionable remarks about the Akhand Kirtani Jatha in media statements shortly after the meeting. He allegedly referred to the organization as “the political face of a terrorist organization.” Rajinder Pal Singh and the Jatha have claimed that these statements caused serious damage to the organization’s reputation and standing in the community.
Legal Proceedings
The case has faced a lengthy legal journey. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously dismissed Badal’s petition challenging the lower court’s proceedings, effectively rejecting his attempt to have the case dismissed at a higher level. This decision paved the way for the defamation case to proceed through the district court.
Despite the court’s expectations, Badal failed to appear for scheduled hearings, prompting the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate to take the decisive step of cancelling his bail and issuing the non-bailable warrant.
What Comes Next
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 9, 2026. The issuance of the warrant places pressure on Badal to appear before the court or face arrest. Legal experts note that such warrants typically remain active until the accused appears in person or the court recalls the order.
This development comes as the Shiromani Akali Dal continues to be a significant political force in Punjab, and represents a major legal challenge for one of its top leadership figures.
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