Bangla Sahib gurdwara row: DSGMC files complaint against AAP as Supreme Court steps in

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has filed a police complaint against Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and party workers, accusing them of disrupting the sanctity of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib during protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The complaint comes amid heavy security across Delhi and a Supreme Court intervention over police detentions and travel restrictions.

In its submission to the Deputy Commissioner of Police for New Delhi district, the gurdwara management body alleged that AAP supporters staged political demonstrations and raised slogans inside the sacred premises on Saturday. DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka urged authorities to identify those involved from video footage and determine who directed them to enter the site.

AAP leaders rejected the accusations, alleging police misconduct instead. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended those who took shelter in the gurdwara, stating that Sikh tradition dictates granting refuge to anyone in need.

What happened at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara?

Hundreds of student protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party gathered in central Delhi on Saturday to demonstrate against the Election Commission. When security forces blocked them from reaching Jantar Mantar, many moved to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to seek shelter.

Gurdwara staff and visitors said up to 2,000 students arrived from Friday night onwards. While gurdwara management refused police requests to turn the students out, officers set up barricades outside and detained people as they left the complex.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that Delhi Police entered the gurdwara forcefully while armed and wearing shoes. Delhi Police denied entering the main sanctum or violating religious protocols. Officers stated that personnel had only walked through a common passage where devotees routinely remove their footwear before entering. Police added that video clips of the incident were being circulated with malicious intent to hurt religious feelings, and confirmed that legal action is being initiated.

Supreme Court steps in over Delhi detentions

As tension mounted across the capital, the Supreme Court held a special Sunday hearing to address habeas corpus and contempt petitions regarding police detentions, barricades, and public transport disruptions.

A bench issued notices to key authorities, including the Home Secretary, the Delhi Police Commissioner, and the chairperson of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The court ordered that metro and railway services must operate normally unless specific regulations are strictly required to maintain public order.

The court further directed an immediate review of police barricades across Delhi and ruled that peaceful, unarmed assemblies outside restricted zones cannot be stopped. Judges confirmed that no person may be detained except in strict accordance with the law, while safeguarding the rights of lawyers, journalists, and internet access. The apex court will hear all related petitions on Tuesday.