AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — Former employees of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee dismissed in 2020 over the alleged disappearance of 328 ‘saroops’ of the Guru Granth Sahib have offered to cooperate with a special investigation team probing the case, saying they welcome a fair inquiry.
The investigation is being conducted by a special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the Punjab Bureau of Investigation. Earlier this month, Amritsar police registered a case against 16 individuals, most of them former SGPC officials and staff, nearly five years after the issue first came to light.
The accused have been booked on charges of forgery, destruction of records and sacrilege. An Amritsar court has since dismissed their bail applications.
Former SGPC deputy secretary Gurbachan Singh and former publication department in-charge Paramdeep Singh said they support the SIT probe and are ready to join the investigation.
“We believe the SIT investigation will be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, unlike the SGPC, which sacked us on frivolous grounds,” Paramdeep Singh said.
Paramdeep Singh said he was not associated with the publication department during the period when the ‘saroops’ were allegedly found missing. He added that other accused — Jujhar Singh, Dalbir Singh and Manjit Singh — have also consented to participate in the probe.
Former publication department supervisor Gurmukh Singh said those dismissed had lived under suspicion for more than five years. “We have carried the blot of false involvement, while the real culprits enjoyed protection due to political connections,” he said.
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who is supervising the SIT, said the investigation would be thorough. “The interrogation will be conducted comprehensively to unearth the nexus involved in the case,” he said.
The controversy dates back to findings of a three-member committee formed on the directions of the Akal Takht and headed by Telangana High Court advocate Isher Singh. In its report submitted on Aug. 24, 2020, the panel said 328 ‘saroops’ went missing from the SGPC publication department during 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Following the report, several employees were dismissed or suspended, while Dr. Roop Singh, then SGPC chief secretary, resigned.
Read more: SGPC urges Akal Takht jathedar to review FIR on missing saroops
