CHANDIGARH, Jan 1, 2026 — Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team has arrested Chartered Accountant Satinder Singh Kohli, the prime accused in the case related to the disappearance of 328 sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, officials said on Wednesday.
Kohli was taken into custody from a hotel in Chandigarh following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Police officials said the arrest marks a key development in a case that has remained under scrutiny for several years.
AAP Punjab chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said Kohli was the main accused in the matter and had served as the chartered accountant of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at the time.
“This is a very important day for the Sikh sangat, which has been waiting for justice for the last four to five years,” Dhaliwal said. “On the High Court’s directions, the SIT has arrested Satinder Singh Kohli from Chandigarh. He is the principal accused in the missing saroops case.”
Dhaliwal said Sikh organisations and devotees had repeatedly raised the issue through protests and demonstrations, demanding accountability. He referred to mobilisations led by Sikh religious figures, including kirtankar Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala.
Calling the arrest a first step, Dhaliwal said action would be taken against all those named in the case. “Sixteen accused have been identified, and all of them will be arrested. No one involved in this case will be spared,” he said.
Senior AAP leader Baltej Pannu said the investigation was initiated after the High Court ordered a probe into petitions linked to the disappearance of the sacred saroops.
“An FIR was registered against 16 individuals, and a Special Investigation Team was constituted to investigate the matter,” Pannu said.
He added that Look Out Circulars had been issued against all accused. “Arrest warrants were already issued against Kohli. He was evading arrest and was traced to a hotel in Chandigarh,” Pannu said.
Pannu said further arrests were likely as the investigation progressed. “The probe is ongoing. This arrest is expected to bring out several important facts related to the conspiracy,” he said.
