Kewal Singh may be told to quit
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 1 — As pressure has been mounting on Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib, to quit his post immediately after the registration of a case under Section 304-B of the IPC against him at Talwandi Sabo on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Bibi Jagir Kaur, president SGPC has said that 'suitable decision' would be taken at an appropriate time to uphold the honour and prestige of the Takht.

Talking to The Tribune on telephone, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that though Giani Kewal Singh had not yet been proved guilty in connection with the death of his daughter-in-law yet there was need to do something in this direction. She however, hastened to add that, "Giani Kewal Singh was responsible enough and might take some decision on his own to uphold the prestige of the Takht Sahib".

She added that since the matter was related to entire community, any decision in this regard would be taken democratically. She said she had not yet spoken to Giani Kewal Singh, after the registration of the case.

On the other hand, Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannuan, senior vice-president, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and member of the sub-committee, probing the charges of "misappropriation of funds" against Giani Kewal Singh and Prof Manjit Singh Jathedars of Damdama Sahib and Kesgarh Sahib respectively, has said that fact-finding report on the issue would be submitted to the Shiromani executive committee after the annual election of SGPC president, slated for November 10.

He said the members of the sub-committee had already been directed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal, and Bibi Jagir Kaur to be impartial while preparing the fact-finding report.

It may be mentioned here that while placing Bhai Ranjit Singh former Jathedar Akal Takht under suspension on February 10, the SGPC executive committee formed a sub-committee to probe charges against Jathedars of Kesgarh Sahib and Damdama Sahib. However, even after lapse of eight months, the sub-committee failed to submit its report so far.

Giani Kewal Singh is the first serving Jathedar who has been booked under serious charges of dowry death on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Giani Kewal Singh and Prof Manjit Singh, who were appointed by the then SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, had switched their loyalty to Mr Badal at the time of tug-of-war between Tohra and Badal camps’. The registration of case has given a fresh turn to the Sikh politics, especially when annual election of SGPC chief was round the corner.

Former Jathedar Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh has alleged that the police had framed a "weak" case against Giani Kewal Singh at the instance of Mr Badal. He sought a CBI inquiry into death of the daughter-in-law of Giani Kewal Singh. He further alleged that a DSP was deputed as an inquiry officer in this regard who could be influenced by the state government easily. He said that Giani Kewal Singh should be booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

In yesterday's Tribune:
Giani Kewal Singh booked