Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former SGPC Secretary In FIR Over 'Missing' Saroops Of Guru Granth Sahib

The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted anticipatory bail to a former Secretary of Shriomani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) booked in an FIR over 328 missing sacred saroops (holy books) of the Guru Granth Sahib, observing that the allegations did not prima facie indicate any misappropriation by him. In doing so the court further remarked that the FIR was lodged after a delay in 2025 wherein the incident had allegedly occured between 2011-2016, for which no explanation had been given. The FIR was lodged under various provisions of IPC including Sections 295(Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 295-A(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief), 408(Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant), 465(Punishment for forgery) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 5 of Jagat Jot Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar. It was registered at the instance of complainant Baldev Singh–representative of 'Sikh Sadbhavna Dal', who alleged that 328 sacred saroops (holy books) of 'Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji', which were in the custody of SGPC, Sri Amritsar Sahib, were found missing in 2016.Justice Manisha Batra in her order noted that the petitioner was admittedly posted as Secretary with the SGPC during the relevant period when the alleged incident took place. The court further said:"As per the allegations, 328 saroops of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were accounted for during this period and the same were under the control of the petitioner and the co-accused. The petitioner has been nominated as accused on the allegations that under his supervision, the scriptures were placed in a suspense account, which showed deliberate negligence on his part. He had been compulsorily retired from the post of Secretary. The allegations do not prima facie indicate that he was involved in any act of misappropriation or that he committed any form of disrespect to holy saroops of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Rather, the allegations are confined only to the negligence and not to any act of misappropriation or criminal intent. It also emerges that the alleged incidents pertain to the period from 2011 to 2016, whereas the FIR in question has been registered only on 07.12.2025, after an inordinate delay, for which no plausible explanation has been furnished".The court further noted that the FIR has not been lodged by the SGPC itself, which is the competent body entrusted with the management of religious affairs but rather at the "instance of a third party" despite the matter having remained within the knowledge of the SGPC for a considerable period of time. The court also noted that any evidence sought to be collected by the Investigating Agency is "largely documentary in nature" and thus custodial interrogation of the petitioner did not appear to be necessary. In any case, the court said, if any further inquiry is required from the petitioner, the same can be effectively carried out by directing him to join and cooperate with the investigation as and when called upon to do so. "It is further noteworthy that there is nothing on record to suggest that in the event of being granted anticipatory bail, the petitioner would either tamper with the evidence or influence any witness. The petitioner is stated to have clean antecedents and has expressed his willingness to join the investigation. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail," the court said. It is alleged that the petitioner in connivance with other accused persons was involved in unauthorized printing, distribution, disappearance and mishandling of sacred saroops, misappropriation and commission of a fraud, worth Rs.9,82,700 with the institution. It was alleged that the petitioner was working as Secretary with the SGPC, who is alleged to have been responsible for supervising work relating to handling and record maintenance of sacred Saroops and associated accounts. The petitioner argued that he had joined the SGPC in 2023 as a Clerk and retired from the post of Secretary with unblemished record. He argued that he had been made a scapegoat due to the connivance and illegal acts of certain higher officials in a case relating to the alleged misappropriation of saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It was submitted that the petitioner has no concern whatsoever with the alleged misappropriation, which allegedly occurred during 2011 to 2016 when the petitioner had no connection of any kind with the Printing Department. It was submitted that a news report dated 31.05.2020 had reported that 257 saroops were missing, following which the matter was referred to Akal Takhat Sahib and an inquiry committee was constituted. However, the petitioner was never called to join the inquiry proceedings, was not apprised...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former SGPC Secretary In FIR Over 'Missing' Saroops Of Guru Granth Sahib

Malavika Prasad

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