Sukhbir Badal Attack: Nihang Sikh Says He Acted on ‘Aadesh from Waheguru', Full Details of the Attack Emerge

In a startling development in the investigation into the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, the accused, Jaspal Singh, has reportedly told police that he attacked after receiving an "aadesh from Waheguru," a divine command. The claim surfaced during ongoing questioning of the accused by Nanded Police.

Jaspal Singh, 62 years old, belongs to the Nihang Sikh order. By profession, he works as an advocate. He moved to Nanded from Pune roughly two years ago and has since been serving as a sevadar, or volunteer, at the gurdwara where the attack took place.

What police sources are saying

According to senior sources within the Nanded Police, the divine command is the reason Jaspal Singh has given for targeting Badal. Separately, police sources also said the accused told them he "just felt like doing it," and pointed to his belief that when "their government" was in power, it had failed to earn the trust of the public. Nanded Police are currently recording his full statement, and investigators say they are working to understand the accused's mental and psychological state at the time of the incident.

Police have not yet confirmed whether this explanation is the complete picture, and sources say the investigation remains active on multiple fronts.

How the attack unfolded

The incident took place on Thursday at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal, a former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, had been in the city since Wednesday and was visiting the gurdwara along with his wife, MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and a few other family members to offer prayers.

The attack reportedly took place just as people were taking photographs with Badal, right after an argument broke out. Jaspal Singh allegedly used a kirpan to attack him as he was coming down the stairs after finishing his prayers. Badal suffered a wound on his right forearm, and his personal security officer was also injured while shielding him.

Nanded District Magistrate Rahul Kardile confirmed the sequence of events, stating that the attack happened around 1:50 pm as Badal was leaving the gurdwara. He said a PSI from the Special Protection Unit stepped in to protect Badal during the assault, and that both Badal and the officer sustained minor injuries. Badal's wound, measuring around 4 to 5 centimetres, was being stitched, and his condition was described as stable. The sevadar responsible for the attack was taken into custody immediately, and a formal investigation was launched.

Reactions pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Harsimrat Kaur Badal to enquire about her husband's health following the attack.

BJP's Punjab in-charge Narinder Singh condemned the incident, saying no one should be attacked at a place of worship and describing the act as highly condemnable, while noting that Sikh teachings have always emphasised peace and seva.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema blamed a serious intelligence and security failure for the attack, calling it especially troubling since this is the second life-threatening attack on Badal in a short period. He alleged that a previous attack in Amritsar had been politicised instead of properly investigated, which he believes may have contributed to this second incident. He also claimed that such attacks tend to occur whenever the Akali Dal starts regaining political momentum.

Fellow SAD leader Gulzar Singh Ranike went a step further, calling the attack a deliberate and calculated conspiracy, and demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. He also urged the state government to use its own investigative agencies to look into the case.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a thorough probe into the motive behind the assault.

Political backdrop

The attack comes just about a week after Badal met Prime Minister Modi on August 7, 2026, a meeting that had already fuelled speculation about a possible alliance between the SAD and the BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Police say they are continuing to verify the accused's statement and are not ruling out other angles, including the possibility of a wider motive, additional people being involved, or a larger conspiracy behind the attack. The investigation remains ongoing, with further details expected as it progresses.

Read More: ‘I Just Felt Like Doing It’: Nihang Accused in Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal Tells Police