4 min readAmritsarUpdated: Jan 4, 2026 04:59 AM IST
he police on Thursday arrested chartered accountant Satinder Singh Kohli, nearly three weeks after the police registered a case in Amritsar on December 7 against 16 people in connection with the disappearance of 'saroops'.
A special investigation team of the Punjab Police, which is probing the case pertaining to 328 missing saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib, Saturday conducted raids at 15 places, and arrested Kanwaljit Singh, a former employee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee who had blown the whistle on the scandal in 2020, it has been learnt.
Kanwaljit is the second person to be arrested the matter. The police on Thursday arrested chartered accountant Satinder Singh Kohli, nearly three weeks after the police registered a case in Amritsar on December 7 against 16 people in connection with the disappearance of ‘saroops’.
Kanwaljit Singh, a former assistant supervisor in the SGPC’s publication department, was the record-keeper for the saroops. Upon retiring in May 2020, he had flagged that 267 saroops were missing and had pledged in writing to compensate the SGPC. On June 29, 2020, he had filed a police complaint against SGPC for negligence.
Meanwhile, the SIT conducted raids at 15 places, including eight in Amritsar, two in Chandigarh, and others in Gurdaspur, Rupnagar, and Tarn Taran.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurbhej Singh Bhullar said the investigation is proceeding on facts and evidence. “Whatever evidence we will get will be placed on record. The raids were conducted at the residence of CA Kohli in Chandigarh and at places linked to the other accused,” he said.
The FIR had been registered under sections including 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship or sacred object with intent to insult a religion), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 465 (forgery) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
As police intensified its investigations, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami again hit out at the AAP government over the registration of the FIR and accused it of interfering in the administrative rights of the apex gurdwara body with the sole purpose of gaining “political mileage” out of it.
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Speaking to the media, Dhami said, “Being the president of the SGPC, I will not allow any kind of government interference in matters that are under the apex gurdwara body’s jurisdiction”.
He said, under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, the SGPC has the authority to initiate departmental action against its employees for any lapse on their part.
Asked why the SGPC was not cooperating in the police investigation in the missing ‘saroops’ case, Dhami said, “We have nothing to do with 16 people (named in the FIR). It was an internal matter of the SGPC. It is a matter of jurisdiction of the SGPC”.
He also criticised the government for the police summoning SGPC employees and asking for call records. “Why are SGPC employees being summoned and records being called? They (AAP government) are making it as an excuse to finish the biggest organization of the qaum. Their sole purpose is to take political mileage,” he said.
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Dhami noted Section 142 of the Act establishes a Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commissioner to handle employee negligence cases. He said the government’s actions violate this mechanism and the Act’s provisions.
The SGPC chief said the state government filed affidavits in courts acknowledging SGPC’s powers, yet registered an FIR. He said, the Akal Takht appointed committee has clearly stated in its report that justice cannot be expected from the police in such matters. It has also been clearly written that no political party should politicise this issue, and if anyone does so, it would amount to a violation of the order (edict) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he said.
In SGPC’s 105-year history, no government has acted against its own affidavit, Dhami said.
After the issue of 328 missing saroops came to light in 2020, an inquiry was conducted by the Akal Takht-appointed panel into the matter and in which, several SGPC officials were found guilty of misconduct.
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On December 29 last year, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the FIR was filed after several Sikh bodies demanded a thorough probe to find the missing saroops. He had also accused the SGPC of failing to find the 328 missing saroops of the Sikh holy book, and accused it of “using the Akal Takht as a shield” to save those who are close to their “masters”.
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
