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Missing ‘saroops’ case: Police failure to seek further custody of accused Satinder Kohli raises questions on efficacy of probe

A former auditor for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Satinder Singh Kohli was accused of failing to perform his duties during a probe ordered by the Akal Takht into the missing saroops.

3 min readAmritsarJan 21, 2026 06:16 PM IST

Recently, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had stated that 169 out of the 328 missing saroops of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib were found at the Rasokhana Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Gurdwara, but the gurdwara management immediately clarified that it had no connection with the missing saroops. (Express photo)

Proceedings in connection with the probe into the case of the 328 missing saroops, or physical copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, appear to have significantly slowed down, with the Punjab Police failing to seek further custodial remand of Chartered Accountant Satinder Singh Kohli, who was recently arrested in this connection.

A former auditor for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Kohli was accused of failing to perform his duties during a probe ordered by the Akal Takht into the missing saroops. He was also a close associate of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, which added to the political interest in the case.

According to Kohli’s lawyer Satnam Singh, the police initially sought his remand for 12 days to raid several locations, including his in-laws’ residence in Gurgaon. However, despite making these claims before the court, the police did not carry out raids in Gurgaon, nor did they seek an extension of his remand on January 12.

The police had initially secured a seven-day remand of Kohli after requesting 12 days. Following the completion of the first period of remand, they sought to extend it and were granted an additional five days.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Singh claimed that during both requests, the police informed the court that Kohli needed to be taken to his establishments in various parts of Punjab and Gurgaon. While some raids were conducted in Punjab, the Gurgaon premises—cited as a primary justification for both remand requests—were never visited. “Upon completion of the second remand term, the police did not request a third extension, and the court subsequently sent Kohli to judicial custody,” Singh said.

Queries sent to Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar in this regard remain unanswered, with attempts to contact him by phone since Tuesday failing to elicit any response.

While sources suggest Kohli’s role was limited to professional negligence, it was surprising that the police wanted to raid his establishments. “The Ishar Singh Commission had almost all the required records in its possession when the probe was conducted in 2020. When the records are already available, then why did the police want to search his Gurgaon establishment?” said a source with the SGPC.

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The Commission report had accused former SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh of overpaying Kohli for partial work, such as stalled online accounting, which could have helped curb embezzlement.

Though Kohli was blamed for failing to detect discrepancies, his associates argued that a lengthy police remand was unjustified for such a purpose.

During the Maghi Mela held recently, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had stated that 169 out of the 328 missing saroops of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib were found at the Rasokhana Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Gurdwara, citing findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government. However, the gurdwara management immediately clarified that it had no connection with the missing saroops.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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