Akshay Kumar questioned by Punjab Police in firing incident; actor refutes allegations

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was questioned by a Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) on Wednesday, November 21, in connection with an alleged deal mediated by him between jailed Dera Sachha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, police sources said.

The questioning began around 9.45 a.m. and was video recorded.

Accompanied by his lawyer Satpal Sidhu, Akshay Kumar arrived at Chandigarh International Airport at about 9 am on Wednesday, November 21. He refused to talk to the media persons waiting for his comments, and headed to the police headquarters where the security was already beefed up.

He remained at the police headquarters for almost two hours. Kumar, was questioned on the 6th floor, which was was completely sealed , and was kept out of bounds for media. Even the police staff was restricted from entering the floor.

A five-member SIT team that is investigating the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing incidents, put a number of questions related to his alleged involvement in mediating a ₹100 crore deal between Sukhbir Singh Badal and controversial self- proclaimed god man Gurmeet Ram Rahim at his apartment in Mumbai.

The meeting was allegedly organised to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim from Akal Takht in October 2015.

Police sources confirmed that Akshay Kumar, in his statement before the SIT, said that “his name has been unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. The allegation of mediating for organising meeting at his apartment were baseless and seemed like a fabricated Hindi movie”.

In his statement, Kumar claimed to have come to Punjab to perform in an event at the World Kabaddi Cup in 2011 and had met Sukhbir Badal. He also claimed to have met him twice of thrice times during public programmes, but not out of state and added that he knew the Badals just like any other prominent politician in the country.

Refuting the allegations of hosting the Gurmit Ram Rahim’s meeting with Sukhbir Badal, Kumar alleged that he was busy shooting films—Gabbar of Back and Baby— during that period. He also denied to have met Gurmit Ram Rahim and his family members ever or before.

Ram Rahim had come to stay in their Society, located in Juhu, for some days which had irked the residents, he told the SIT officials. The actor also said that “his wife Twinkle Khanna's tweet, that was a satire on Dera Sacha Chief, was misinterpreted by people”.

The actor also claimed that "he and his family had a great respect for the Sikh religion and Guru Granth Sahib and there was no question of even thinking anything against the Sikhs and the Sikhism.”

Satpal Sidhu, however, claimed that the SIT was fully satisfied with his client Akshay Kumar’s statements and ensured that Kumar will not be called for further questioning in this context.”

The SIT has already questioned former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in this case.

The SIT had summoned Kumar and the Badals after their names were mentioned in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on the sacrilege incidents in Punjab.