Sikhs for Justice v. Parkash Badal

POSNER, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents a single issue, which is whether the defendant was served with process; yet the case could be the basis for a novel of international intrigue.

Sikhism is an Indian religion. Most Sikhs live in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. The state’s highest official is its Chief Minister. Parkash Singh Badal, the defendant in this case — a Sikh of course (all male Sikhs have “singh,” a derivative of “simha,” the Sanskrit word for lion, as part of their names) — is that offi cial, despite his advanced age (85). He has held the office intermittently since…