Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has clarified its position in the case involving disappearance of 328 saroops (sacred copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib from an SGPC office in 2020. The committee stated it is acting solely under the orders of Shri Akal Takht Sahib and will neither cooperate with the police or government nor provide any records in the matter.
The statement was issued following a meeting of officials led by SGPC Secretary Pratap Singh. He said that employees found guilty in the case had already faced necessary action based on the investigation report of Shri Akal Takht Sahib.
Pratap Singh emphasized that the orders of Shri Akal Takht Sahib are supreme and final for Sikh institutions. Following this directive, SGPC has decided not to assist any government agency or police authority regarding this case.
He further said that three employees—Kanwaljit Singh, Baj Singh, and Dalveer Singh—were directly found guilty of misusing the sacred Saroops for personal gain and tampering with records.
According to SGPC rules, Saroops are provided to congregations or gurdwara committees only through a formal process, which includes investigation, recommendation, receipts, and proper record-keeping. The accused employees bypassed this procedure, leading to strict disciplinary action.
Pratap Singh said SGPC is an institution of the entire Sikh community, and false publicity against it harms a respected organization. He also criticized AAP leader Baltej Pannu for making statements in the media that are misleading and undermine Sikh institutions’ traditions and dignity.
He clarified that sacred Saroops of sacred Guru Granth Sahib are distributed according to established rules and protocols, and claims that SGPC chief maintains a diary of these Saroops are entirely false and misleading. No such diary or record system exists, he added. The committee appealed to the government to avoid targeting Sikh institutions and to respect the orders of Shri Akal Takht Sahib.
What is the 328 sacred Saroops case?
The case concerns 328 sacred Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib in Amritsar, which reportedly went missing, raising concerns about potential disrespect. Devotees had long complained that the Saroops were not managed according to proper records, protection, and religious protocols. Following an investigation, an FIR was filed at Kotwali police station in Amritsar, naming 16 individuals, including SGPC’s former chief secretary Roop Singh.
