Akal Takht hands out punishment to Sukhbir Badal, tells him to clean utensils

Days after Sukhbir Singh Badal tendered his resignation as president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after he was declared ‘tankhaiya’ or guilty of religious misconduct, the highest Sikh temporal seat, Akal Takht, awarded him ‘tankhah’ (punishment) on Monday (December 2, 2024).

Directing the working committee of SAD to accept Mr. Badal’s resignation as the SAD president, Akal Takht asked the working committee to submit a report in this regard in three days, besides constituting a committee for reorganisation of the party within six months.

Along with Mr. Badal, several other Akali Dal leaders, who were part of the SAD-led government between 2007 and 2017, found guilty of religious misconduct, were made to put on plaques around their necks with a note mentioning their confession of sins as the supreme seat equated their mistakes to sins.