A Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for over two hours on Monday in connection with the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura sacrilege-related firing cases.

Badal, who reached the GO Mess of the Punjab Police in Sector 32 at around 11 am, left the premises at 1.30 pm.

He had been summoned by the SIT probing the firing incidents linked to the sacrilege cases.

A heavy police force of Chandigarh Police, including women personnel, was deployed outside the venue. Traffic diversions and restrictions were imposed as a large number of party workers gathered at the site.

The atmosphere outside the venue remained tense as SAD workers raised slogans and threatened to block the road if their leader was arrested. Riot control vehicles were also deployed at the venue as a precautionary measure for crowd control.

While refusing to divulge details of the questioning, Badal said he was not afraid of arrest or jail.

He said it was the fourth time he had been summoned by the SIT and that he had joined the investigation whenever called.

“There is no point in questioning by the SIT. It was just a media gimmick to show that Sukhbir Singh Badal was summoned by SIT in a sacrilege case,” Badal said.

Targeting the SIT, Badal alleged that instead of investigating the matter, the team was operating at the behest of its political masters. He said it had been over 11 years since the incident, but the SIT had failed to conclude the investigation.

Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of raking up the issue for “cheap electoral gain” during elections.

He alleged that the move was aimed at diverting public attention from an alleged controversial video of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.