Chandigarh: The Akal Takht on Sunday excommunicated Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Amarjit Singh Chawla and Golden Temple additional head granthi Malkit Singh from Khalsa Panth over allegations of rape and harassment. Both have been barred for life from working in Sikh institutions.Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargajj, who is also the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, announced the decisions from the ‘faseel’ (podium) of Akal Takht following a meeting at its secretariat in Amritsar. The meeting included Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Tek Singh, Golden Temple granthi Kewal Singh, Akal Takht granthi Gurbakhshish Singh and one of the Panj Pyaras, Mangal Singh.Giani Gargajj said the allegations damaged the dignity of Sikh institutions. He cited the Panth-approved Sikh Rehat Maryada, which mandates excommunication for any of the four “Bajjar Kurehits“ (cardinal sins): dishonouring or cutting hair, consuming halal meat, adultery and tobacco use. “Chawla remains excommunicated until he proves his innocence and appears before the Akal Takht,” Giani Gargajj said.The action follows an Aug 21 FIR registered at Anandpur Sahib police station. A woman alleged Chawla raped her repeatedly between March and May at Anandpur Sahib and Amritsar after the SGPC provided her accommodation upon her Nov 2025 return to India. She also alleged Chawla threatened to kill her if she spoke out.Chawla denied the charges as a “completely false, baseless” conspiracy, but resigned from the SGPC and his post as Shiromani Akali Dal senior vice-president.The complainant also accused Malkit Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib driver Mohan Singh of sending her obscene messages. The SGPC suspended both on Sept 17. Though the FIR named only Chawla, the woman alleged misconduct by others.According to the FIR, the woman said she even approached Akal Takht Jathedar about the matter “several times” and “showed the proofs, but no action was taken”. Responding to a question on this, Giani Gargajj said, “I meet thousands of sangat (devotees) every day. That bibi (woman) met me in the same manner. She met me casually. She talked to me about Malkit Singh, mentioning that he did some inappropriate chat. She did not talk to me about Amarjit Singh or anyone other. She spoke to me verbally. Despite this, understanding my responsibility, I asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to remove this man from the Akal Takht. And as far as I know, after that, he did not perform any service at the Akal Takht Sahib. If the woman had told me about Amarjit Singh, I would have taken strict action in the matter.”Announcing the excommunication of Malkit Singh, Akal Takht noted that when a person is serving in a responsible Sikh position, he carries a great responsibility towards the community and the religion to always maintain his character and moral conduct in accordance with the Guru’s teachings.” “The levelling of allegations against a person occupying such a responsible position brings collective dishonour to the community. Therefore, Malkit Singh is excommunicated from the Khalsa Panth. All Sikh sangats are directed not to maintain any kind of association with him. A complete ban is imposed on Malkit Singh from working in Sikh institutions for the remainder of his life,” Akal Takht addedGiani Gargaj called for an impartial police investigation into the case and urged the SGPC to conduct its own high-level inquiry.
