Virsa Valtoha backs Amarjit Chawla, questions allegations by Bahrain-based woman
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 21, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Virsa Singh Valtoha has come out in support of party leader Amarjit Singh Chawla, rejecting questions over his own role in bringing a Bahrain-based woman to Punjab and describing the allegations against him as “false, baseless and politically motivated.”
In a detailed post on social media, Valtoha also alleged that the woman who has accused Chawla of rape had previously been involved in filing a false rape case and was facing a cheating case. These claims were made by Valtoha and have not been independently verified.
The controversy follows an FIR registered at the Anandpur Sahib police station on August 21 against Chawla, a former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member and former senior vice-president of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The Bahrain-based woman from Sangrur district has alleged rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. The case was registered under Sections 64, 127(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
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Chawla has denied the allegations, calling them false and fabricated. He resigned from his SGPC membership and SAD posts after the case was registered.
What Valtoha said
In his post, Valtoha said the questions being raised about why he brought the Bahrain-based woman to India and Punjab were politically motivated.
He alleged that the woman had earlier filed a rape case at Dhuri police station and claimed that the case was found to be false during investigation and court proceedings. He further claimed that proceedings under Section 182 of the Indian Penal Code were pending against her.
Valtoha also alleged that a ₹5 lakh cheating case involving the woman was pending before a court in Nabha and claimed she had been arrested at an airport in connection with that case.
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These allegations concerning the woman’s previous cases could not be independently established from the records reviewed for this report and are therefore presented as claims made by Valtoha.
Valtoha also questioned why the woman, according to the allegations in the current case, remained silent for an extended period while allegedly continuing to travel to different cities and attend court proceedings.
A delay in reporting an alleged sexual offence, however, does not by itself establish whether an allegation is true or false. The circumstances and evidence in the present case remain matters for the investigating authorities and courts.
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Valtoha backs Chawla after Akal Takht action
Valtoha said he respected the hukamnama pronounced by the Sikh clergy at Sri Akal Takht Sahib against Chawla, but expressed confidence that Chawla would ultimately establish his innocence before the courts.
On September 20, the five Sikh high priests at Akal Takht announced the expulsion of Chawla and Additional Head Granthi Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth. The decision followed the allegations in the rape case against Chawla and allegations of inappropriate messages involving Malkit Singh. Both were also barred from holding positions in Sikh institutions.
Chawla subsequently questioned the decision and said he should have been given an opportunity to present his side before the religious decree was pronounced.
Valtoha also targets AAP over Bhagwant Mann
In his post, Valtoha criticised an Aam Aadmi Party leader and spokesperson for supporting the Akal Takht decision concerning Chawla while, according to him, continuing to associate with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann despite a previous hukamnama.
These are Valtoha’s political and religious claims and have been included as statements from his post rather than established facts.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu, who on Monday questioned why the Bahrain-based woman was brought to Punjab and raised questions about the roles of Valtoha and other Akali leaders in the episode.
Meanwhile, the rape case against Chawla remains under investigation. Police have said evidence is being collected, while reports have noted that no arrest had been made nearly a month after the FIR was registered.
The allegations against Chawla have not been adjudicated by a court.