NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government has rejected the case for the permanent release of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. This development was confirmed by Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, head of ‘Panj-Aab Lawyers’, who provides legal counsel for Sikh political prisoners, commonly referred to as ‘Bandi Singhs’.
Details of the Sentence Review Board Proceedings According to documents shared by Advocate Manjhpur with Sikh Siyasat, the Sentence Review Board (SRB) of the BJP-led Delhi government held a meeting on December 23, 2025. During this meeting, the case regarding Prof. Bhullar’s permanent release was deliberated.
The decisions taken during the meeting were formally released via a letter from the Office of the Director General of Prisons, Government of NCT of Delhi, dated February 6, 2026. The attached list reveals that the SRB reviewed a total of 60 cases. Of these, 26 life convicts were granted permanent release, while 24 pleas were rejected. Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar’s name appears at the fourth spot on the list of rejected cases.
Disparity in Release Criteria: 24 Convicts Released Before Completing 20 Years The documents highlight a significant disparity in the board’s decision-making. Of the 26 life convicts granted release, only two had completed 20 years of imprisonment. The remaining 24 had not yet completed the 20-year threshold.
Notably, eight of the released prisoners still had 5 to 6 years remaining before completing their 20-year term, which would have legally ended in 2031. Despite this, they were granted early release.
Prof. Bhullar Denied Release Despite 30 Years in Prison In stark contrast to the early release granted to other convicts, Prof. Bhullar was denied relief despite having been incarcerated for over 30 years. He has been in prison since 1995. This rejection comes even as the board exercised leniency for prisoners with significantly shorter time served.
Questions Raised Over Influence of Sikh BJP Leaders The decision has sparked debate regarding the political standing of Sikh leaders within the BJP. Prominent leaders such as R.P. Singh and Manjinder Singh Sirsa have long advocated for Prof. Bhullar’s release. In the past, these leaders had criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for delaying the decision.
Recently, BJP leader R.P. Singh had even written to the Chief Minister of Delhi demanding Prof. Bhullar’s release. However, the rejection of the plea by the BJP government’s own Sentence Review Board has raised serious questions: Do Sikh politicians joining the BJP hold any real influence within the party, and are their concerns regarding sensitive Sikh issues being ignored by the party’s high command?
