Missing ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib: On Bains’ direction, Punjab Police books 16; SGPC condemns political interference

Consequently an FIR under sections 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 Indian Penal Code was registered at Division-C police station in Amritsar.

Apart from Roop Singh, those booked included ex-secretary of Dharam Parchar Committee Manjit Singh. The others against whom the case has been registered are Gurbachan Singh, Satinder Singh, Nishan Singh, Paramjit Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Jujhar Singh, Baaj Singh, Dalbir Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Satinder Singh and Amarjit Singh.

The controversy dates back to 2020 when a retired SGPC employee, Kanwaljit Singh, claimed that records regarding the holy saroops were being covered up. A probe ordered by the Akal Takht revealed that there were no records for 328 saroops published by the SGPC, and another 186 had been published without due permission. The probe report highlighted “great dishonesty and negligence,” noting that ledgers had been tampered with. Following these findings in 2020, the Akal Takht had pronounced religious punishment (tankhah) upon the 2016 executive committee members and officials for their negligence.

Singer Bhai Baldev Singh Vadala commended the state government for getting an FIR registered against those who allegedly committed sacrilege of 328 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sandhwan said that the state government will not tolerate any act of sacrilege. “Our government will not spare anybody who will commit this type of heinous crime. Guru Sahib ji has guided us to protect all the religions across the globe,” he said.

Meanwhile, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the AAP government for what he termed as “open interference” in Sikh institutions. Dhami alleged that the participation of government representatives in this long-standing matter and their attempts to issue directions are entirely politically driven. He asserted that the Punjab government must abandon the illusion that it can run Sikh institutions according to its own wishes.

“Qaumi religious institutions belong solely to the Sikh community, and any attempt by the government to interfere will not be allowed to succeed,” he said.

Dhami emphasized that the Sikh Panth knows well how to safeguard the dignity and traditions of its religious institutions. He said that the issue of the 328 sacred ‘saroops’, in which the government is making the “grave mistake of intervening”, is purely an SGPC administrative matter.

In a statement, he said the Akal Takht Sahib itself had conducted an inquiry into the matter, and departmental action was taken as per the findings and recommendations of that report.

The report clearly established that the case was not one of sacrilege, but rather a matter of financial misconduct by a few employees, the statement said.

He questioned the government’s political posture, saying that when all action has already been completed under the directives of the Akal Takht— the supreme authority for the Sikh community — the government has no right to interfere or politicize the issue.

The SGPC president warned the government to immediately stop interfering in Sikh affairs.

“If such actions affecting the sanctity of Sikh institutions and gurdwaras are not halted, the Punjab government alone will be responsible for the consequences,” he said.

He also appealed to the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib to take note of government interference in matters that have already been resolved as per Akal Takht’s decisions, so that the ‘Panthic’ traditions continue to be upheld.