In a significant development in the high-profile case involving 328 missing sacred saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made its first arrest. The arrest marks a crucial step forward in the probe that has gripped Punjab for years.
First Arrest in the Sacred Texts Case
Satinder Singh Kohli, a former internal auditor for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and a chartered accountant, was apprehended from Chandigarh on Thursday. The arrest was confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations) Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, who is also a member of the SIT. Kohli was reportedly removed from his SGPC position in 2020 on the directions of the Akal Takht after allegations of negligence surfaced.
Reports indicate that his firm had billed for multiple services but performed only limited work, leading the SGPC to initiate recovery proceedings against him. Investigators believe his arrest could lead to more actions against other individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR).
Political Significance and the Path to the SIT
The case's immense religious and political significance was underscored when prominent political figures personally delivered a copy of the FIR to the complainant. Former cabinet minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains presented the document to Baldev Singh Wadala of the Sikh Sadbhavana Dal at the site of a 'mahapanchayat'.
Wadala began his agitation on November 4, 2020, demanding justice for the missing saroops. He has recently levelled serious allegations, including the disappearance of lakhs of 'angs' (pages), unauthorised printing, and several incidents of sacrilege across various locations. He specifically referred to an incident at Ramsar Sahib, alleging that sacred saroops were smuggled out under the cover of a fire.
Wadala has also claimed that a detailed 1,100-page report prepared under the Akal Takht's directions documented every aspect of the matter, but the SGPC failed to take strict legal action. He alleged that departmental actions were merely cosmetic, providing undue benefit to the main accused.
The SIT Composition and Future Probe
The Punjab government constituted the seven-member SIT on December 22 to investigate the matter thoroughly. The team is headed by Amritsar Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Other key members include:
- Jagatpreet Singh, AIG, Vigilance, SAS Nagar, Mohali
- Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, DCP, Investigations, Amritsar
- Harpal Singh Sandhu, Additional DCP, Amritsar
- Gurbans Singh Bains, SP, D, Patiala
- Beant Juneja, ACP, Ludhiana
- Harminder Singh, ACP, D, Amritsar
The FIR, registered on December 7 based on Wadala's complaint, includes serious charges under sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship), 295-A (deliberate acts hurting religious feelings), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), and 465 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code. The arrest of Satinder Singh Kohli signals the beginning of what is expected to be a rigorous and closely watched investigation, potentially involving senior SGPC functionaries.
