Sukhbir Badal Attack: Assailant Aimed for Chest, Former Punjab Deputy CM Escapes With Arm Injury

August 14, 2026

Nanded: Fresh details have emerged in the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at Gurdwara Mata Sahib in Maharashtra’s Nanded district.

Police investigations have revealed that the accused, identified as Jaspal Singh, allegedly intended to kill Sukhbir Badal by striking him in the chest with a kirpan (ceremonial sword). However, Badal raised his arm in self-defence, preventing a potentially fatal injury.

The attack left Sukhbir Badal with a deep wound on his arm that required 8 to 9 stitches, officials said.

Assailant targeted Sukhbir’s chest

According to police, the accused lunged at Sukhbir Badal as he was returning after offering prayers at the Gurdwara.

Investigators said the attacker attempted to strike Badal in the chest. However, the SAD leader quickly raised his arm, causing the blow to land on his arm instead.

Doctors treated a wound measuring around 5 centimetres on his arm and administered multiple stitches.

The accused was immediately overpowered by people present at the spot and later taken into police custody.

Drug issue in Punjab cited as motive

Nanded Superintendent of Police Nilabh Rohan said the accused has been arrested and is being interrogated.

During questioning, Jaspal Singh allegedly told investigators that he was angry over the drug problem in Punjab, which he claimed motivated the attack on the Akali Dal leader.

Police are probing all aspects of the case and have tightened security around the investigation.

Meanwhile, Baba Jagga Singh, who manages the Gurdwara, said the accused had been performing seva at the shrine for the past two years and was believed to be mentally unstable.

Sukhbir Badal was on a two-day Nanded visit

Sukhbir Badal had arrived in Nanded on August 12 along with his wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

The couple participated in religious services and visited several historic Sikh shrines in the district. Harsimrat Kaur Badal reportedly performed seva at the Gurdwara late into the night.

On the day of the incident, Sukhbir Badal and his wife had visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib and later travelled to Gurdwara Mata Sahib, located around 15 kilometres from Nanded city.

Police said the attack occurred when Badal was returning after paying obeisance at the Gurdwara.

Video shows Sukhbir with bandaged arm

A video that surfaced after the incident showed Sukhbir Singh Badal walking with a saffron-coloured cloth wrapped around his right hand, where a bandage had been applied following the attack.

The Gurdwara where the incident occurred is managed by Nihang Singhs and not by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Baba Jagga Singh said no such incident had ever taken place at the shrine before and described the attack as unprecedented.

Police continue to investigate the incident and are examining all possible angles behind the attack.