Jaspal Singh, the Nihang Sikh who allegedly attacked Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal with a kirpan on Thursday, has told the police that he received the aadesh (divine order) from “Waheguru”, which he says came to him when he was praying at the Nanded gurudwara.

The incident happened at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji, Mugat in Nanded, Maharashtra, just as Sukhbir Badal was coming down the gurudwara steps. Jaspal, who had been standing there with three others, lunged at him with a kirpan, leaving him with a hand injury.

The accused was arrested and later taken to Nanded Police headquarters for interrogation.

During his interrogation, Jaspal Singh told the police that he had taken sanyas from the world in 2023, leaving behind his wife and daughter in Pune. He became a Nihang (a warrior order in the Khalsa Panth of Sikhism) sevadar at Nanded. The police said he was a lawyer by profession and worked at a corporate firm in Mumbai before becoming a Nihang.

An officer who interrogated Jaspal Singh said he acted alone and did not receive help from the outside.

“So far this is the version he has maintained. In the investigation so far, it does not appear that he had help from the outside or that it was a pre-planned attack. He claims that he felt from within that he should attack Badal and has given multiple reasons like the condition of Punjab and the drug issues there,” the officer said.

SP Neelabh Rohan said that Jaspal Singh will be produced before the court on Friday, where the police will seek his custody.

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Earlier, the Nihang Sikh had told the police that he attacked Badal on the ‘spur of the moment’.

A Maharashtra police officer, who was part of Badal’s security detail, also sustained minor injuries. Badal, too, was injured in the attack. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Badal is likely to be discharged from the hospital today.