Following the controversy and outrage over Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s statement regarding the 328 saroops (sacred copies) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the Maghi Mela, the government has reversed its stance.
SNPNEWS.IN News (Gurmail Kamboj): On January 19, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Minister Harjot Singh Bains, and Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang paid obeisance at Rasokhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib in Banga (Nawanshahr). After meeting with the shrine’s management committee, they distanced themselves from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s claim made from the stage at the Maghi Mela on January 14 and took a U-turn during a press conference.
What is the Full Matter: Between 2013-15, financial irregularities and poor record-keeping were reported in the SGPC’s publication department, with records of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s saroops going missing. Former SGPC employee Kanwaljit Singh claimed in June 2020 that the printing press and SGPC were hiding records of the saroops. This sparked a major controversy. In July 2020, Akal Takht Sahib formed a three-member inquiry committee (led by Advocate Ishar Singh), which submitted a 1000-page report in August 2020.
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The report confirmed that 328 saroops were missing (printed but not found in records or lost), and about 186 others were printed without permission. Based on the report, SGPC took departmental action against some employees and apologized to the Sangat and Khalsa Panth, but no FIR or criminal case was registered, after which the matter remained cold for a long time.
Sikh Sadbhawna Dal (SSD) leader Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala (former Hazuri Ragi at Sri Harmandir Sahib) and other Sikh organizations started an indefinite protest in Amritsar at Dharam Singh Market (near Heritage Street, close to Sri Harmandir Sahib) in November 2020, which continued for about 5 years (until 2025). They demanded strict action against SGPC officials and the location of the missing saroops.
The controversy reignited in December 2025 when Sikh organizations (including Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala) protested again over the missing records of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s printing press and demanded action from the Punjab government. On December 7, 2025, Amritsar Police registered an FIR No. 168 (under Sections 295, 295-A, 409, 465, 120-B), naming 16 former SGPC officials/employees (such as former Chief Secretary Dr. Roop Singh, Satinder Kohli, etc.).
On December 22, 2025, the Punjab government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and intensified the probe. Raids were conducted, and some arrests were made (including Satinder Kohli and Kanwaljit Singh). In January 2026, SIT officials raided 15 locations (in Punjab and Chandigarh), visited SGPC offices, and gathered information from Giani Harpreet Singh (former Jathedar) as well.
On January 14, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claimed from the official stage at Maghi Mela (Muktsar Sahib) that the SIT had found some of the missing 328 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji during an inspection at Rasokhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib. He stated that 169 saroops were found there, of which 139 were unrecorded (without records). He called it a major success and targeted SGPC and Akali Dal.
After this official claim by Bhagwant Mann, controversy erupted in Punjab, especially in the Doaba region. The management committee and leaders of Rasokhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib rejected the Chief Minister’s claim, stating that the saroops present with them are in accordance with Sikh Maryada and under SGPC supervision.
The management explained that the saroops the Chief Minister claimed as unrecorded have been present there since before 2013-15. Continuous Akhand Paaths have been held at the place for the past 50 years, leading to a large number of sacred saroops being present. They provided details that some old saroops were deposited at Goindwal Sahib and new ones were obtained. They accused the Chief Minister of making baseless remarks that hurt the sentiments of the shrine’s devotees.
Seeing the controversy escalate, Banga MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi resigned from his government position and, after paying obeisance at Rasokhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib, apologized. On January 19, Punjab government representatives—Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Minister Harjot Singh Bains, and Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang—paid obeisance at the shrine in Banga (Nawanshahr).
After a meeting with the management committee, they told the media that no discrepancies were found in the records during the investigation; it was a “miscommunication.” Opposition parties (Akali Dal, Congress) accused Mann of playing with religious sentiments and lying.