TheShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)is the official publisher of the Guru Granth Sahib, and the first reports of missing copies came from its Amritsar publication department in 2016. A 2020 probe later revealed that even more copies than initially reported could not be accounted for.
On Saturday, SGPC presidentHarjinder Singh Dhamicriticized theAAP governmentfor registering an FIR in the case, accusing it of overstepping the gurdwara body’s administrative authority for political gain. The AAP, meanwhile, alleged that the SGPC had not cooperated with thePunjab Policeinvestigation.
On December 7, the Punjab Police registered an FIR under sections covering desecration of a place of worship, deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.Sixteen individualswere named, including former SGPC chief secretary and chartered accountantSatinder Singh Kohli, who was arrested on Thursday. Raids were conducted at 15 locations, including premises linked to Kohli, by the Special Investigation Team.
Dhami, however, distanced the SGPC from the individuals named in the FIR, emphasizing the body’s jurisdiction over its own records. On December 28, amid public pressure for answers,five jathedarsat the Akal Takht Secretariat directed the SGPC not to cooperate with police investigations.
Chief MinisterBhagwant Mannstated the FIR was filed following demands from Sikh bodies to locate the missing Birs, questioning why the SGPC had failed in this regard and accusing it of shielding insiders using the Akal Takht. Kohli, reportedly close to SAD leaderSukhbir Singh Badal, was removed as SGPC internal auditor in 2020 after alleged negligence allowed mishandling of the Birs to go unnoticed.
This clash is part of a broader tension between AAP and SGPC, which has escalated since theSikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill in 2023ensuring free Gurbani broadcasts from the Golden Temple, ending the monopoly of a Badal-linked private channel. The AAP government has also criticized SAD’s influence over SGPC donations and its handling of community events, including the 350th martyrdom anniversary ofGuru Tegh Bahadur.
Historically, theBadal familyhas maintained significant influence over the SGPC for decades. The current dispute has led to calls forSGPC elections, last held in 2011, and the AAP government has started the voter registration process, though elections have yet to occur.
The Bir issue has gained prominence amid questions over AAP’s earlier promises to prosecute SAD leaders and deliver justice in cases such as theBargari sacrilege, highlighting ongoing political tensions in Punjab.
The controversy traces back to June 26, 2020, when activistSarabjit Singh Verkaalleged the SGPC concealed the destruction of267 Birs in a 2016 fire, downplaying the damage allegedly to protect the Badal family during an election year.
