# Akal Takht expels SAD leader, head granthi from Khalsa Panth 2026-09-20T14:27:15+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Akal Takht expelled former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Amarjit Singh Chawla and additional head granthi Giani Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth on Sunday. The decision followed a meeting of five Sikh head priests at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar, led by acting jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj. Chawla was booked in Anandpur Sahib on charges of rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation after a complaint by a Bahrain-based woman. Hindustan Times reports that the FIR was registered on August 21 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. NDTV reports that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting. Chawla resigned as SGPC member and SAD senior vice-president, denying the allegations and calling them a conspiracy. Giani Malkit Singh was accused of sending vulgar messages to the same complainant. The clergy directed the Sikh community to sever all ties with both men and bar them for life from positions in Sikh institutions. India Today reports Chawla can return to the fold only if he proves his innocence and appears before the Akal Takht. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The three news outlets covered the excommunication identically, reporting the clergy's decision, the FIR details, and Chawla's denial without slant. All gave equal weight to the allegations and the accused's response. The uniform straight reporting leaves no framing gap to analyse. The substantive development is the speed of the religious penalty: the FIR was registered in August, and the clergy acted within weeks, signalling the gravity of the charges. Chawla's reported flight to Canada may complicate any future appearance before the Akal Takht. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in (neutral report) Straight news agency style reporting of the excommunication, FIR details and denial - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Straight report on the clergy decree and FIR, with no editorial framing - ndtv.com (neutral report) Brief factual announcement of the emergency meeting and expulsion Tags: Akal Takht, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Amritsar, Giani Malkit Singh, SGPC, Shiromani Akali Dal Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/akal-takht-expels-sgpc-ex-member-head-granthi-from-khalsa-panth/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/akal-takht-expels-sgpc-ex-member-head-granthi-from-khalsa-panth/#story-in-brief