News / Topic / Balwant Singh Rajoana / News

balwant singh rajoana news

Latest from balwant singh rajoana

Will seek community’s consensus on withdrawing Rajoana’s mercy plea: SGPC

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami during a meeting in Amritsar on Monday. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on May 06, 2025 08:32 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

SGPC delegation meets Rajoana, slams Centre for delay in mercy plea decision

The SGPC chief accused the Centre of adopting a “biased and discriminatory approach” towards Sikh prisoners.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, comes out of the Patiala Central Jail after meeting with convict Balwant Singh Rajoana on Friday. (ANI)

cities

Published on May 03, 2025 09:18 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Patiala

Direct Centre to decide on Rajoana’s mercy plea, SGPC urges top court

On March 21, 2025, the Centre officially turned down the request of the Akal Takht-constituted five-member panel for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the cases of Rajoana and other Sikh prisoners

cities

Published on Apr 17, 2025 09:30 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Centre’s no to PM-Takht panel meet regarding Sikh prisoners ‘unfortunate’, says Dhami

He said according to a recent communication from the Centre on March 21, 2025, the request was officially declined with the justification that the matter is under consideration with the ministry of home affairs.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami

cities

Published on Mar 27, 2025 07:04 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

SC grants Centre till Mar 18 to decide on Rajoana’s mercy plea

Rajoana has been in prison for 29 years, of which 15 years have been spent on death row following his conviction in 2007.

india news

Updated on Jan 21, 2025 03:48 AM IST

ByAbraham Thomas, New Delhi

SC grants Centre four weeks to decide on Rajoana mercy plea

A bench comprising justices Bhushan R Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan deferred the hearing on Rajoana’s plea following submissions by solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Union government.

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Union government four weeks to decide on the long-pending mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, even as the Centre flagged the “sensitivity” of the issue and said the situation was not conducive to resolving the matter at present. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

cities

Updated on Nov 26, 2024 08:22 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand, New Delhi

SC grants Centre four weeks to decide on Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

Balwant Singh Rajoana, the key accused in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s murder case. (HT File Photo)

india news

Published on Nov 25, 2024 11:08 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

Death row convict Rajoana calls for Sikh unity to fight ‘conspiracy’

Out on parole from Patiala jail for three hours on high court orders, Rajoana attends prayer meet of brother at native village in Ludhiana district.

Balwant Singh Rajoana (centre), a death row convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, attending the prayer meet of his brother, Kulwant Singh, at a gurdwara in Ludhiana on Wednesday. The high court granted him a three-hour parole to attend the ceremony. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 20, 2024 04:31 PM IST

ByTarsem Singh Deogan

HC allows Rajoana to attend brother’s bhog ceremony

While granting parole, the bench of justice Gurvinder Singh observed that death of a sibling would put the entire family in a state of shock and grief and under such circumstances, the petitioner can be granted permission to attend the bhog ceremony of his brother so as to enable him to be with his family for a little while in the moment of grief.

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2024 08:10 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Chandigarh

SC defers signing Rajoana mercy plea order

Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the blast that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, has been seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

india news

Updated on Nov 19, 2024 08:30 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

Beant case: SC puts on hold its order to President’s secy on Rajoana plea

After the order was passed in the morning, solicitor general Tushar Mehta urged that it should not be given effect as there are “sensitivities” involved in the issue and that it be heard on Friday.

Balwant Singh Rajoana is convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. A special court sentenced Rajoana to death in July 2007. (HT file photo)

cities

Published on Nov 18, 2024 12:43 PM IST

ByPress Trust of India

SC urges President to decide Balwant Rajoana’s mercy plea in two weeks

Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the blast that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, has been seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment

Rajoana was scheduled for execution on March 31, 2012, but the sentence was stayed following a mercy plea filed by SGPC. (HT file photo)

india news

Published on Nov 18, 2024 11:38 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

SAD slams AAP for ‘creating hurdles in the way’ of Rajoana’s parole

Bikram Singh Majithia said in a statement here that the AAP government had created hurdles in the release of Rajoana on parole

Asking chief minister Bhagwant Mann not to befool Punjabis, Majithia said “the chief minister should immediately issue directions for a clear cut no objection for the release of Rajoana and present the same in the Supreme Court.” (HT File)

cities

Updated on Nov 18, 2024 05:40 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Chandigarh

SC declines to consider immediate release for Balwant Rajoana

A bench, headed by justice Bhushan R Gavai, decided not to pass any orders in absence of affidavits from the Union govt and the state of Punjab in response to Rajoana’s plea demanding his release

A special court in July 2007 awarded the death sentence to Rajoana. (HT file photo)

india news

Published on Nov 04, 2024 11:43 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

Beant Singh assassination: SC to hear Rajoana’s plea for commutation of death sentence on Nov 4

On September 25, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the union territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana’s plea.

In his plea, Rajoana has sought directions to the Centre and the Punjab government to commute his death sentence “due to inordinate delay” in its execution and in deciding the “mercy petition filed on his behalf”. (HT File)

cities

Updated on Nov 03, 2024 06:32 AM IST

ByPress Trust of India, New Delhi

SC to reassess Rajoana plea forcommutation of death penalty

The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to reassess a petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was convicted for his involvement in an explosion outside the Punjab civil secretariat that killed Beant Singh and 16 others in 1995 (HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Sep 26, 2024 07:54 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand, New Delhi

Rajoana case: SGPC to write to Prez in last-ditch effort

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday resolved to make a last-ditch attempt by writing to the President to decide on its petition pertaining to the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana, the death row convict in CM Beant Singh assassination case.

cities

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 05:58 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Law should be equal for all: SGPC chief on furlough to Ram Rahim

After meeting Sikh prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana, death row convict in chief minister Beant Singh assassination case, in Patiala jail along with Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday raised questions over the 21-day furlough granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim who walked out of the Rohtak’s Sunaria jail this morning.

cities

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 07:30 AM IST

ByOur Correspondent, Patiala

Balwant Singh Rajoana shoots off letter to home minister Amit Shah

Death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah questioning the delay in deciding his mercy petition. Rajoana, who was convicted in the assassination case of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, has criticized the government for granting remission to other criminals and accused it of bias. His letter comes after Shah defended the Centre's stand on mercy petitions during the winter session of Parliament. Rajoana's execution was stayed in 2012 and his mercy petition has been pending for 12 years. The Sikh body, SGPC, has also requested more time to act on Rajoana's review petition.

cities

Updated on Jan 03, 2024 09:04 AM IST

ByKaram Prakash, Patiala

Rajoana petition: Talks with Centre on, give more time, SGPC writes to Akal Takht

In the letter written to the jathedar, Dhami said correspondence with the Centre is ongoing, but it may take time for a decision in this regard

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami (C). (File)

cities

Updated on Jan 02, 2024 05:10 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

SAD leaders stopped from meeting Rajoana: SGPC chief slams ‘autocratic attitude’ of govt

In a statement issued here, Rajoana has been in jail for the past 27 years and is forced to go on a hunger strike due to the “stubborn attitude” of the government. “Instead of helping improve the situation, obstacles are being created before the Sikh community by the Bhagwant Mann-led government,” he said.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami (HT file)

cities

Updated on Dec 05, 2023 08:38 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

SAD leaders Majithia, Valtoha not allowed to meet Rajoana in Patiala jail

Akali leaders claim permission from ADGP to meet death row convict, but jail superintendent says Majithia was informed over phone about approval being denied

Former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia leaves after he was barred from meeting Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the 1995 assassination of former chief minister Beant Singh, at Central Jail in Patiala on Monday. (ANI)

cities

Updated on Dec 05, 2023 08:28 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Patiala

SAD leaders Majithia, Valtoha not allowed to meet Rajoana in Patiala jail

Akali leaders claim permission from ADGP to meet death row convict, but jail superintendent says Majithia was informed over phone about approval being denied

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia talking to officials outside the Central Jail, Patiala, on Monday after he was denied permission to meet death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana. (HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 04, 2023 03:54 PM IST

ByHT Correspondent

Executive meeting: Won’t withdraw Rajoana mercy petition, says SGPC

Dhami said it has also been decided to intensify the struggle in the Rajoana case and a protest march will be taken out from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on December 20

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami (C) addresses a press conference in Amritsar on Sunday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 04, 2023 06:34 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

Rajoana case: SGPC to take final call on December 3

After the meeting, the SGPC spokesperson said discussion was held on a letter sent by Rajoana, in which he asked the SGPC to revoke the mercy plea filed by it for commutation of his punishment as the Union government is not taking decision on it even after 11 years.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami (File)

cities

Updated on Dec 03, 2023 07:32 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

SGPC executive meet: Take quick decision on Rajoana plea: SGPC to Centre

SGPC said it has decided to call a meeting of representatives of the ‘Panthic’ parties to discuss the issue of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s assassination case

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami (C) addressing a press conference in Amritsar on Thursday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 01, 2023 06:24 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

SGPC chief meets Rajoana amid hunger strike threat

The meeting between Dhami and Rajoana lasted for over two hours, however, the former failed to convince him against the hunger strike.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of Rajoana’s threat to go on a hunger strike if his mercy petition, which was filed by the SGPC in March 2012, is not withdrawn. (HT File)

cities

Updated on Nov 29, 2023 08:24 AM IST

ByKaram Prakash, Patiala

Rajoana defers hunger strike

Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995, has deferred his hunger strike by 20 days which was announced to the press for withdrawing the mercy plea filed with the President.

Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995, has deferred his hunger strike by 20 days which was announced to the press for withdrawing the mercy plea filed with the President. (HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 15, 2023 05:56 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Patiala

Bandi Chhod Diwas: Use ‘close ties’ with MHA to ensure decision on Rajoana’s mercy plea: Takht jathedar to DSGMC

In his customary address delivered from Darshani Deodi (entrance to sanctum sanctorum) of Golden Temple on the occasion of Bandi Chhod Diwas (Diwali), he said, “The DSGMC is directed to play meaningful role in this matter. The DSGMC must send a report of its efforts on this issue in 15 days to the Akal Takht”.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Sunday directed the office-bearers of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to make efforts to ensure early decision on the mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, death row convict in former CM Beant Singh assassination case, by using their “close ties” with the Union ministry of home affairs. (HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 14, 2023 05:40 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Withdraw mercy plea or else will go on hunger strike, says Balwant Singh Rajoana

In his two-page letter, a copy of which is with HT, Balwant Singh Rajoana said that there has been no decision on the plea even after 12 years

cities

Updated on Nov 08, 2023 08:52 AM IST

ByKaram Prakash, Patiala

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

balwant singh rajoana news

Latest from balwant singh rajoana

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

The SGPC chief accused the Centre of adopting a “biased and discriminatory approach” towards Sikh prisoners.

On March 21, 2025, the Centre officially turned down the request of the Akal Takht-constituted five-member panel for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the cases of Rajoana and other Sikh prisoners

He said according to a recent communication from the Centre on March 21, 2025, the request was officially declined with the justification that the matter is under consideration with the ministry of home affairs.

Rajoana has been in prison for 29 years, of which 15 years have been spent on death row following his conviction in 2007.

A bench comprising justices Bhushan R Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan deferred the hearing on Rajoana’s plea following submissions by solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Union government.

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

Out on parole from Patiala jail for three hours on high court orders, Rajoana attends prayer meet of brother at native village in Ludhiana district.

Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the blast that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, has been seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

After the order was passed in the morning, solicitor general Tushar Mehta urged that it should not be given effect as there are “sensitivities” involved in the issue and that it be heard on Friday.

Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the blast that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, has been seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment

Bikram Singh Majithia said in a statement here that the AAP government had created hurdles in the release of Rajoana on parole

A bench, headed by justice Bhushan R Gavai, decided not to pass any orders in absence of affidavits from the Union govt and the state of Punjab in response to Rajoana’s plea demanding his release

On September 25, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the union territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana’s plea.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to reassess a petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana seeking the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday resolved to make a last-ditch attempt by writing to the President to decide on its petition pertaining to the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana, the death row convict in CM Beant Singh assassination case.

In the letter written to the jathedar, Dhami said correspondence with the Centre is ongoing, but it may take time for a decision in this regard

Akali leaders claim permission from ADGP to meet death row convict, but jail superintendent says Majithia was informed over phone about approval being denied

Akali leaders claim permission from ADGP to meet death row convict, but jail superintendent says Majithia was informed over phone about approval being denied

Dhami said it has also been decided to intensify the struggle in the Rajoana case and a protest march will be taken out from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on December 20

After the meeting, the SGPC spokesperson said discussion was held on a letter sent by Rajoana, in which he asked the SGPC to revoke the mercy plea filed by it for commutation of his punishment as the Union government is not taking decision on it even after 11 years.

SGPC said it has decided to call a meeting of representatives of the ‘Panthic’ parties to discuss the issue of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s assassination case

The meeting between Dhami and Rajoana lasted for over two hours, however, the former failed to convince him against the hunger strike.

Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995, has deferred his hunger strike by 20 days which was announced to the press for withdrawing the mercy plea filed with the President.

In his two-page letter, a copy of which is with HT, Balwant Singh Rajoana said that there has been no decision on the plea even after 12 years

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like