Gurpreet Sekhon, the main accused and gangster in Punjab's famous 2016 Nabha jailbreak case, is now an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. Gurpreet Singh Sekhon's entry into AAP has been so spectacular that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself has given him membership of the party. Gurpreet Sekhon has been one of the biggest gangsters of Punjab. 47 criminal cases have been registered against him. Now the opposition has surrounded Bhagwant Mann and the AAP government.
Gurpreet Sekhon has influence in Firozpur district. He is a resident of Mudki area. He joined AAP in a public meeting held in Sekhon Jeera area. Bhagwant Mann had come to deliver a speech in Moodki area of Firozpur district, while he also gave membership to Gurpreet. Gurpreet Sekhon has been convicted in the jailbreak case in March 2023. He has been sentenced to 10 years. He was granted bail till the next hearing in late November 2023.
Also read: Enthusiasm high due to victory of Narmada, why is Aam Aadmi Party so excited in Gujarat?
What did Bhagwant Mann say in welcome to Gurpreet?
Gurpreet Singh Sekhon was warmly welcomed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Bhagwant Mann claimed that people's applause shows that people are now disillusioned with other political parties and the public is no longer liking the traditional parties. People now want only politics of work.
What did the opposition say on Gurpreet Singh's involvement?
What did Congress say?
On the joining of Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, Congress state president Amarinder Singh Raja Vading said, 'AAP is setting a dangerous example. What message do they want to convey with this? Gangster culture should not be promoted. This kind of rehabilitation is dangerous, in which criminals first intimidate people, commit crimes and extortion, and later enter electoral politics to erase their past.'
Shiromani Akali Dal also said that if this is the policy of AAP regarding gangsters then the condition of law and order in Punjab can be understood. Shiromani Akali Party also took a dig at Punjab Police's ongoing anti-gangster campaign 'Gangstron Te War', saying that this is not war but love with gangsters. This seems to be AAP's new campaign.
Also read: 'Taking revenge…', Raghav Chaddha's name missing from draft voter list, angry at AAP
What did the gangster say after coming to AAP?
Gurpreet Singh Sekhon has said in his defense that he has completely changed his life. He claims that all the cases registered against him have now been disposed of. He has been serving the people of the area for many years.
Will Bhagwant Mann make big politics out of 'Chhote Bhai'?
Gurpreet Singh has described Bhagwant Mann as his elder brother. He has said that he will support them in every situation. He has taken membership of AAP along with his supporters. Gurpreet was first associated with Shiromani Akali Dal, then he chose to join AAP. His relations with Akali Dal are also not sour.
Supported Akalis in block committee elections
During the Block Committee elections held in December 2025, Akali Dal had supported independent candidates supported by Gurpreet Singh Sekhon. In some areas where his supporters were contesting elections, he did not field his candidates. Gurpreet Sekhon was also arrested under sections 126 and 170 of the Indian Civil Defense Code on the complaint of rival candidates. He got bail after 5 days.
Also read: SIR: Where AAP is continuously winning, a lot of votes were lost, what happened in the seats of BJP leaders?
Earlier there was enmity with Rajneesh Dahiya, now how will there be friendship?
Gurpreet Singh Sekhon had openly criticized AAP and local MLA Rajneesh Dahiya, but his stance started changing in the last few months. He was seen publicly praising Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on several occasions. Last year he had announced that he would also contest the 2027 elections as an independent. Had announced to contest the 2027 elections as an independent without naming any seat. Now the conflict within AAP may increase on Jeera assembly seat. Naresh Kataria is the MLA from here.
Who is Gurpreet Sekhon?
A total of 47 cases have been registered against Gurpreet Sekhon so far. He was among the accused in the Nabha jailbreak case of November 2016. A group of armed attackers had attacked the high-security prison. Six prisoners including Sekhon had escaped, two terrorists had also gone missing. He was arrested again in February 2017. He is out on bail in this case from 22 November 2023. Gurpreet's name also cropped up in the 2015 murder case of gangster Sukha Kahlwan, who was shot while being taken into police custody. Sekhon has also been associated with gangsters Shera Khuban and Vicky Gounder.
Also read: ABVP wins Panjab University Students' Union elections, what happened to NSUI and AAP?
Will people be able to forget the past?
Supporters of Gurpreet Singh Sekhon say that he has come out of the world of crime and is now engaged in social work. He arranges marriages of daughters of poor families, builds roads, distributes ration, animal fodder and relief material during floods. No new cases are being registered against him.