AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH, December 11 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday called on acting Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to issue an edict on the recently registered FIR in connection with 328 missing holy saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, who chaired the executive committee meeting at its headquarters, termed the Punjab government’s decision to file the FIR as “a direct challenge to Akal Takht” and “an unwarranted interference” in its administrative rights.
“Though action regarding the sacred saroops had already been completed in accordance with the directives of Akal Takht Sahib, the recent participation of ministers, the Speaker, and MLAs in a protest leading to Sri Darbar Sahib and their directions to the police to register an FIR show that the government is intentionally exploiting the matter for political gain,” Dhami said.
The FIR, registered on December 7, names 16 individuals, mostly former SGPC staffers, under sections of the Indian Penal Code including 295, 295-A, 409, 465, and 120-B. It came five years after the missing saroops were first reported.
Dhami said the inquiry committee led by advocate Ishar Singh had concluded that certain employees attempted to conceal financial misappropriation but did not involve sacrilege. “Police interference in examining sacred saroops would violate Sikh maryada and tradition,” he added, noting that previous executive and general house resolutions approved only internal action.
The SGPC condemned the government’s move, calling it a political attempt to shift attention from its failures. “The Sikh Panth will not tolerate interference in its institutions,” Dhami said, adding that the matter will now be referred to the jathedar for further deliberation.
Acting Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gargaj said the case pertains to financial mismanagement and not sacrilege. “This case pertains to financial mismanagement, not sacrilege,” he said, noting the political involvement of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and minister Harjot Singh Bains, who previously underwent tankhah at Akal Takht.
