Amritsar: The Akal Takht -- the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion -- on Thursday said it has pardoned Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh following a written apology from him.

Akal Takht jathedar (chief) Gurbachan Singh told media persons here that the sect chief wrote an apology letter to the Akal Takht in which he said he had no intention to show disrespect to the Sikh Gurus or hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.