SGPC accuses Punjab SIT of overstepping mandate in ‘holy saroops’ case

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which oversees the administration of historical Gurdwaras on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) objected to the conduct of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Punjab government to probe the case involving 328 missing holy ‘saroops’ in 2020, accusing the SIT of overstepping its mandate and unwarrantedly meddling in the organization’s internal and administrative matters.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami in a statement said that “under the guise of investigation, attempts are being made to undermine the constitutional status of the Sikh community’s premier religious institution, which cannot be accepted under any circumstances.”

He said that the SGPC, from the very beginning, has cooperated with the investigation team with complete sincerity and transparency and keeping in view the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (the highest Sikh temporal seat), every required piece of information and assistance was provided to the SIT. “However, instead of appreciating this cooperation, the SIT has made the SGPC’s administrative and internal matters part of its agenda,” he alleged.

He said the SIT has continuously been seeking information that has no connection whatsoever with the case of the 328 holy saroops (sacred copies) of Guru Granth Sahib.

“Demanding details of the SGPC’s financial accounts, bank transactions and overall financial records does not fall within the SIT’s jurisdiction. At times the SIT has sent its representatives to banks to gather account details, while on other occasions detailed financial information has been sought through official letters. The SIT has now also sought details regarding agreements signed over a long period in the past with private channels ETC and G Next Media concerning Gurbani Kirtan broadcast, despite these having no relation to the case of the 328 holy saroops,” he said.

“All this is being done beyond the original purpose of the investigation,” he said, adding that the nature of the questions being asked and the arbitrary demands for information indicate that the SIT may be working with motives unrelated to the actual probe.