During an emergency session at the Akal Takht Secretariat on Sunday, acting Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj announced the expulsion of Amarjit Singh Chawla, a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader, from the Khalsa Panth.
The decision followed allegations that Chawla had raped a woman who later reported the incident to police. No formal complaint had been lodged with the Akal Takht, yet the Jathedar deemed the matter serious enough to order the SGPC to remove him from duty.
Chawla, who also serves on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, now faces a lifetime ban from all Sikh institutions, and community members are instructed not to associate with him until he proves his innocence.
In a parallel move, the five Singh Sahibans also expelled granthi Malkit Singh over claims of inappropriate messages, imposing the same lifetime prohibition.
The Akal Takht will not participate in the criminal investigation, leaving the case to civil courts, while Chawla must appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib to contest the expulsion, a hearing scheduled for August 15.