The arrest of chartered accountant Satinder Singh Kohli this week has thrust the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) back into the spotlight over the long-pending case of the 328 missing Birs (copies) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The development has revived serious allegations of conflict of interest within the committee, given Kohli's reported close association with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Arrest and Allegations of Political Shelter
Kohli, who served as the SGPC's internal auditor, was removed from his position in 2020 on direct orders from the Sri Akal Takht Sahib. His alleged negligence is cited as a key reason the mishandling and disappearance of the sacred scriptures went undetected for so long. His arrest, however, has been mired in controversy. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Balraj Pannu claimed that Kohli was apprehended from a hotel room booked under the name of an individual connected to a private news channel linked to the Badal family.
This has led to questions about the sincerity of the SGPC's actions against Kohli. Critics argue that because the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) holds a majority in the SGPC's elected house, the committee's pursuit of Kohli—a known associate of Sukhbir Badal—lacks credibility and is merely a paper formality.
SGPC President Dismisses Claims of Bias
In an interview, SGPC President and SAD(B) leader Harjinder Singh Dhami firmly rejected all suggestions of leniency or conflict of interest. "Anyone can level claims; everyone has a view," Dhami stated. He emphasized that the SGPC is actively following the Akal Takht's directives by pursuing a case to recover over Rs 7 crore from Kohli's firm.
Dhami outlined that the committee has filed a formal petition against the chartered accountant at the Sikh Gurdwaras Judicial Commission (SGJC), which is headed by Chairman Satnam Singh Kler. The SGJC, established under the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925, adjudicates matters concerning SGPC-managed gurdwaras and their employees.
Judicial Links and Past Controversies
The appointment of the SGJC chairman itself has become a point of contention. Satnam Singh Kler was appointed in 2016 during the SAD(B)'s tenure in power in Punjab. Further intertwining the connections, his son, Arshdeep Singh Kler, serves as a core committee member of the SAD(B).
Satnam Kler's role faced scrutiny in 2020 when he apologized to the Sikh community for representing former Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini in a human rights case related to the murder of Balwant Singh Multani. The SGPC's case against Kohli has been pending in Kler's court since 2021. When contacted, Kler stated he had no firsthand information regarding its current status. President Dhami defended the judicial process, stating, "Judges are chosen per procedure; it is by due course of law, in place for years."
Legal Representation Raises Eyebrows
Adding another layer of complexity, SGPC member and advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka appeared in an Amritsar court to represent Satinder Singh Kohli during police remand hearings. This is particularly notable because Sialka is part of an SGPC sub-committee specifically tasked with taking action against individuals found responsible by the Akal Takht's probe committee in the missing Birs case.
Ironically, last month, Sialka briefed the media on behalf of the SGPC on this very issue. In 2020, he had to seek forgiveness from the Akal Takht for honouring police officer Paramraj Singh Umranangal, an accused in the Behbal Kalan firing case. Regarding Sialka's defense of Kohli, Dhami stressed the separation between professional and committee roles, noting that a lawyer defends a client in a "personal capacity."
The arrest of Satinder Singh Kohli, while a significant step, has opened a Pandora's box of questions about political influence, judicial independence, and internal accountability within one of Sikhism's most prominent institutions. The public and the Sikh Sangat await concrete, transparent action and a resolution to the grave matter of the 328 missing Birs.
