New Delhi – Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has made serious remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a recent interview, Swamy called Shah a “gunda” and said he was involved in the 2003 murder of Haren Pandya, who was a former Gujarat BJP general secretary and state home minister. Swamy added that whatever happened in the Haren Pandya murder case will come out in public one day and the person responsible will have to face the law. He even suggested that the murder might have happened because Haren Pandya was a Brahmin.
The video clip of this interview spread quickly on X (formerly Twitter) on March 31, 2026. Many users, including some opposition voices, shared it widely. The remarks have sparked fresh discussions about the old Haren Pandya murder case that happened more than 23 years ago in Gujarat.
Swamy, who is still a member of the BJP, has spoken about this case many times before. But this time his words were direct and strong. He used the word “gunda” for the home minister and said the truth about the murder will eventually come out. No official reaction has come from Amit Shah or the BJP high command till late evening on March 31, 2026.
What Exactly Did Subramanian Swamy Say?
In the interview clip that went viral, Subramanian Swamy said clearly: “Amit Shah is a gunda. Whatever he did in Haren Pandya’s murder will be out in public someday and he will have to face the law. Maybe he did it because Haren Pandya was a Brahmin.” He also mentioned that the full details will come out one day.
The clip was shared by several accounts on X with high views and comments. One post by user @TARUNspeakss received thousands of views and many replies asking if the BJP would take any action against Swamy. Similar posts asked why the party was silent on such serious allegations from one of its own senior leaders.
Prashant Bhushan, the senior advocate, has shared related content about the Haren Pandya case in the past. He has posted about the mysterious circumstances of the murder and how Pandya had deposed against certain leaders before the Justice Krishna Iyer commission on the 2002 Gujarat events. The latest clip has again brought the old case back into public talk.
Who Was Haren Pandya and How Was He Killed?
Haren Pandya was a well-known BJP leader from Gujarat. He served as the state home minister under Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He was seen as a popular leader with his own support base in the party. On March 26, 2003, Pandya was found dead in his Maruti 800 car near Law Garden in Ahmedabad. He had bullet wounds. The murder shook the BJP in Gujarat at that time.
The CBI took up the case. In 2007, a special court convicted 12 people, mostly from some Muslim groups, saying it was a conspiracy linked to the 2002 riots. But in 2011, the Gujarat High Court acquitted all the accused, saying the evidence was not proper and the investigation had loopholes.
The case saw many appeals. The Supreme Court looked into it over the years. Pandya’s family never fully accepted the CBI version. They said there was a bigger conspiracy. Some reports mentioned that Pandya had given statements before the Justice Krishna Iyer commission about the 2002 events. He was seen as a rival to some leaders in the party at that time.
The murder happened when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat and Amit Shah was a senior minister. Over the years, questions have been raised about political angles, but courts have given their rulings based on evidence presented.
Subramanian Swamy’s Long-Standing Views on the Case
Subramanian Swamy has spoken about the Haren Pandya murder many times in interviews and on social media. In October 2022, he tweeted: “I hope Modi & Shah are not planning a Haren Pandeya on me.” At that time, he later clarified that he meant sidelining from the party and not the murder itself. But in other interviews, he has repeated that many people in the BJP believe certain things about the case.
In different videos and posts over the years, Swamy has said that the party knows about the involvement of some leaders in the Pandya case. He has also linked it to the death of Judge B.H. Loya, who was handling the Sohrabuddin encounter case in which Amit Shah was an accused (Shah was later acquitted). Swamy has said in multiple interviews that “everyone in the party believes” certain facts about these cases.
In the latest interview clip from March 2026, his language was sharper. He directly called Amit Shah a “gunda” and said the truth about the Pandya murder will come out. He also mentioned the Brahmin angle, saying it might have been a reason.
Swamy is known for speaking his mind even when it goes against his own party. He has been a BJP member for a long time but has often criticised the leadership on various issues. He was a Rajya Sabha MP earlier and has held positions like minister in earlier governments.
Reactions on Social Media and Political Circles
The video clip spread fast on March 31, 2026. Many users on X asked why the BJP was not reacting. Some opposition supporters shared it to highlight internal differences in the BJP. Others said Swamy should be asked for proof if he is making such serious claims.
No mainstream BJP leader or spokesperson has given any statement on this latest clip till now. The party usually does not comment on every statement by Swamy, as he is known for his independent views.
Prashant Bhushan has in the past posted about the Pandya murder, saying it happened in mysterious circumstances and that Pandya had deposed against Modi before the Krishna Iyer commission. His older posts have been recalled by people sharing the new clip.
Background of the Haren Pandya Murder Investigation
The murder took place on March 26, 2003. Pandya was sitting in his car when he was shot. The CBI arrested several people and filed a charge sheet saying it was revenge for the 2002 riots. The special court in 2007 sentenced 12 people. But the Gujarat High Court in 2011 acquitted everyone, saying the witnesses were not reliable and the investigation had many gaps.
Pandya’s widow, Jagrutiben Pandya, and the family have always demanded a fair probe. They said the real conspirators were not caught. Some petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, but the court has gone by the evidence on record.
In one detailed report, it was mentioned that Pandya had met leaders and given statements that made some people unhappy. The case became a talking point in Gujarat politics for many years.
Swamy’s Other Allegations Over the Years
Swamy has also spoken about Judge Loya’s death in 2014. He has said in interviews that the party believes Loya was murdered and linked it to the Sohrabuddin case where Amit Shah was an accused. Swamy has said these things openly in many videos. He has asked why the CBI or other agencies have not acted on his statements.
In one older interview, Swamy said if someone wants to get a person killed, they contact Amit Shah. He has repeated similar things in different forums. But no court has accepted these claims as proven. Shah was acquitted in the Sohrabuddin case by the court.
Why These Remarks Matter Now
The latest remarks by Subramanian Swamy come at a time when the BJP is strong at the centre. Swamy is still in the party and has not been expelled. His statements are being seen by some as internal criticism and by others as old allegations being repeated.
The Haren Pandya case is more than two decades old. Many documents, court judgments and investigations are on record. But because Swamy is a senior BJP leader himself, his words carry weight for some people and create debate.
No new investigation has been ordered in the Pandya case after the Supreme Court rulings. The family continues to seek justice in their own way.
Timeline of Key Events in Haren Pandya Case
- March 26, 2003: Haren Pandya murdered in Ahmedabad.
- 2007: Special court convicts 12 accused.
- 2011: Gujarat High Court acquits all.
- Later years: Appeals in Supreme Court; some convictions looked at again.
- 2022: Swamy tweets about “Haren Pandya on me” and clarifies meaning sidelining.
- Over the years: Swamy repeats allegations in interviews.
- March 31, 2026: Latest viral clip where Swamy calls Shah a “gunda” and links him to the murder.
Political Impact and Public Discussion
The clip has led to many discussions on X and other platforms. Some users say Swamy should be asked to give evidence. Others say the party should respond. The opposition has not made any big statement yet on this specific clip, but the issue is being talked about in political circles.
Swamy’s remarks have once again brought the 2003 murder case into the news after many years. People are remembering the old reports, court cases and political background of Gujarat at that time.
FAQs
1. Who was Haren Pandya?
Haren Pandya was the Home Minister of Gujarat in the early 2000s. He was a popular leader within the BJP but had developed significant political differences with the then-state leadership before his assassination in 2003.
2. Why is Subramanian Swamy making these allegations now?
Subramanian Swamy has been increasingly critical of Amit Shah and PM Modi since 2020. He often claims that the government has moved away from its core principles and has targeted him personally. His recent comments are seen as part of this ongoing friction.
3. Has any court found Amit Shah guilty in this case?
No. Amit Shah has never been an accused or a suspect in the official charge sheets related to the Haren Pandya murder case. The Supreme Court has convicted 12 individuals in this case, none of whom are high-ranking political leaders.
4. What was the “botched up” investigation the High Court mentioned?
In 2011, the Gujarat High Court slammed the CBI for failing to follow basic investigative procedures and suggested the probe was one-sided. This led many to believe that the “real” killers were still at large, a sentiment Swamy is echoing now.
5. How has the public reacted to these claims?
The reaction is deeply polarized. One section sees Swamy as a truth-teller, while another sees him as a disgruntled politician using “hit-and-run” tactics to stay relevant.