Who is Jaspal Singh, 62-year-old Pune lawyer arrested for attack on Sukhbir Badal?

The attack took place at around 1.45 pm when Sukhbir Singh Badal was visiting the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat. Maharashtra Police said a man in Nihang attire, later identified as Jaspal Singh Tejpal, attacked the SAD chief with a kirpan while he was coming down the steps.

In Short

• Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked with kirpan in Maharashtra gurdwara
• Attacker Jaspal Singh Tejpal, a Pune-based lawyer, taken into custody
• Badal faced similar attack in 2024, political leaders condemn incident

Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded on Thursday, with police taking the accused, identified as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh Tejpal, into custody from the spot.

According to preliminary information, Singh is a lawyer originally from Pune and had practised at a court there. He has been associated with the Mata Sahib Devan Ji Gurdwara in Mugat, near Nanded, for around two years.

The attack took place at around 1.45 pm when Badal was coming down the steps of the gurdwara after offering prayers. Singh, dressed in Nihang attire, allegedly approached Badal and attacked him with a kirpan. Police personnel present at the spot immediately intervened and overpowered him. Singh is now being questioned as police investigate the circumstances and motive behind the attack.

A video from the spot showed Singh's turban coming off as police took him into custody, while another man quickly approached and tied it back around his head.

BADAL INJURED, SECURITY OFFICER ALSO HURT

Badal suffered injuries to his right hand in the attack and was taken to a hospital, where he received two to three stitches. He is out of danger, officials said.

Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of Badal's security detail, was also injured while intervening to protect him.

Badal had earlier visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded along with his wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Harsimrat Kaur Badal over the phone to enquire about her husband's health.

PM MODI, FADNAVIS ENQUIRE ABOUT BADAL'S HEALTH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Harsimrat Kaur Badal over the phone and enquired about her husband's health, sources said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also spoke to Badal and sought details about the incident. He directed the Nanded police to investigate the attack and establish the motive behind it.

SAD DEMANDS CBI PROBE, CALLS IT 'INTELLIGENCE FAILURE'

Senior SAD leaders condemned the attack and questioned how the assailant managed to get close to a Z+ security receiver inside a gurdwara.

Bikram Singh Majithia termed the incident a "total intelligence failure" and demanded a CBI probe. Senior party leader Virsa Singh Valtoha also called for a thorough investigation to establish who was behind the attack.

SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler said the Maharashtra Police would investigate the incident and determine whether there was a larger conspiracy behind the attack. He alleged that "panth virodhi" forces were targeting panthic leaders.

SECOND ATTACK ON BADAL IN TWO YEARS

Thursday's incident was the second attack on Badal in less than two years. In December 2024, former Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Narain Singh Chaura opened fire at Badal from close range outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal was sitting in a wheelchair and performing the duty of a 'sewadar' as part of his religious penance when Chaura approached him and pulled out a pistol.

A plainclothes police officer, ASI Jasbir Singh, intervened and pushed Chaura's arm upwards as he fired. The bullet missed Badal and struck the wall behind him. Chaura was overpowered and handed over to police.

Badal was performing the 'sewadar' duty as part of the 'tankhah' imposed by the Akal Takht over alleged "mistakes" committed during the SAD government's rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

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Inputs from Kunwar Chand Mandle