Who Is Jaspal Singh? 62-Year-Old Lawyer Held in Sukhbir Singh Badal Attack Case (Pic and Video)

Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday, August 13, with police detaining the accused, identified as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh, at the spot. Badal suffered an injury to his right hand and was taken to a hospital, where he received two to three stitches. He is out of danger, officials said. A police officer was also injured while intervening to protect him.

The attack took place at around 1.45 pm at Mata Sahib Devan Ji Gurdwara in Mugat, near Nanded, when Badal was coming down the steps after offering prayers. According to preliminary information, Singh approached Badal and allegedly attacked him with a kirpan. Security personnel immediately intervened and overpowered him. Police are questioning Singh and investigating the circumstances and motive behind the attack. Sukhbir Singh Badal Attacked at Gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded, Rushed to Hospital (Video).

Jaspal Singh Arrested in Sukhbir Singh Badal Attack Case

Sukhbir Singh Badal's Attacker Identified, Picture Accessed

- Man named Jaspal Singh detained

- Accused attacked Badal with kirpan pic.twitter.com/5aVTOQcAFq

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 13, 2026

सुखबीर सिंह बादल पर हमला करने वाले जसपाल सिंह का VIDEO आया सामने...#sukhbirsinghbadal #Video pic.twitter.com/KbUYjvWzJz

— Arpit shukla ✍🏽 (@JournoArpit) August 13, 2026

Maharashtra: Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked by a servitor, Jaspal Singh, at the Mata Sahib Gurudwara. The attack occurred while Badal was descending the stairs after offering prayers. Inspector Santosh Kendre, who tried to intervene, was also… pic.twitter.com/un1DNnhXv1

— IANS (@ians_india) August 13, 2026

How the attack unfolded

Badal was visiting the gurdwara along with his wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Police personnel present at the site intervened as the accused allegedly moved towards the SAD chief with the kirpan.

Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of Badal’s security detail, was injured while intervening. Badal was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment. Visuals from after the incident showed him walking with his right hand wrapped in cloth. SAD Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Appears Before SIT for Fourth Time in Behbal Kalan Case.

Nanded police have taken the accused into custody and are questioning him. The motive has not been conclusively established. A police-source report said the accused told investigators he “just felt like doing it”, while police continue to record his statement and examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Who is Jaspal Singh?

Jaspal Singh, 62, has been identified by police as the alleged attacker. Preliminary reports describe him as a lawyer originally from Pune who had practised at a court there.

Singh has reportedly been associated with the Mata Sahib Devan Ji Gurdwara in Mugat for around two years. Reports have also described him as being dressed in Nihang attire at the time of the incident.

Police are investigating his background and seeking to establish why he targeted Badal. At this stage, investigators have not publicly established a definitive motive.

Fadnavis orders probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an investigation into the incident. He also spoke to Badal and enquired about his condition, directing Nanded police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and establish the motive.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Harsimrat Kaur Badal over the phone to enquire about her husband’s health, according to reports. Badal had earlier visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded along with his wife and other family members.

The attack has drawn condemnation from political leaders. Senior BJP leader R P Singh called the incident “completely unacceptable” and urged a thorough and impartial investigation. He also called for the circumstances and motive behind the attack to be established and for action against those responsible.

Badal had faced an attack in 2024

Thursday’s incident is not the first attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal at a Sikh religious site.

In December 2024, former Babbar Khalsa International member Narain Singh Chaura opened fire at Badal outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Chaura was overpowered by people at the spot and handed over to police. Badal escaped unharmed.

At the time, Badal was performing ‘sewadar’ duty at the temple entrance after the Akal Takht imposed a religious punishment, or ‘tankhah’, on him over alleged mistakes committed during the Akali Dal government’s tenure in Punjab.

The 2024 attacker, Chaura, had previously been linked to the banned Babbar Khalsa International and had faced multiple criminal cases, including in connection with the 2004 Burail jailbreak.

The latest incident has again raised questions about security arrangements during Badal’s visits to Sikh religious sites. Police are expected to examine both the attacker’s background and how he was able to approach the SAD chief inside the gurdwara.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2026 05:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).