In a decisive breakthrough in the grave case of 328 missing sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested the prime accused, Chartered Accountant (CA) Satinder Singh Kohli, marking a significant step forward in the pursuit of accountability in one of the most sensitive matters to have shaken the Sikh community.
The development was disclosed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, along with senior AAP leader Baltej Pannu, emphasizing that the investigation has entered a critical phase with concrete action on the ground.
Declaring it a long-awaited moment of justice for the Sikh sangat, AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “Today is a very big achievement for Sikh sangats, one that they have been waiting for over the last four to five years. Acting on the directions of the High Court, the SIT has arrested Satinder Singh Kohli from a hotel in Chandigarh. He is the main accused in the missing saroops case and was also serving as the CA of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at the time,” he stated.
Recalling the prolonged fight for justice, the AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson said that Sikh sangats had been continuously mobilising for years, holding protests and demonstrations to demand accountability. “For several years, Sikh sangats have been raising their voice and staging protests for justice in this case. A major mobilisation was also led under the leadership of renowned kirtankar Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala. This is the first arrest in the case, and that too of the main accused, which makes it all the more significant,” he said.
Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured strict action against every person involved. “I want to assure the Sikh sangat that all 16 accused who are responsible for making the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji go missing will be arrested and sent behind bars. This is the firm commitment of the Punjab government, and no guilty person will be spared,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, AAP Punjab senior leader Baltej Pannu said that the investigation was initiated following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court while hearing a petition related to the disappearance of 328 sacred saroops. “The High Court had directed an investigation into the matter, after which the Punjab Police registered an FIR against 16 individuals and constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case,” Baltej Pannu said.
Providing further details, Baltej Pannu said that stringent steps have already been taken against all those named in the case. “Look Out Circulars have been issued against all 16 named accused. Arrest warrants against Satinder Singh Kohli had already been issued, and he was evading the police while hiding in a hotel in Chandigarh, from where he has now been arrested,” he stated.
Emphasising that the probe is far from over, Baltej Pannu said the arrest could lead to several crucial revelations. “The police investigation is ongoing, and we expect many more disclosures in this case, especially because the same Chartered Accountant had been auditing the SGPC. This arrest can open up several big facts linked to the conspiracy,” he said.