The special investigation team (SIT) probing the disappearance of 328 sacred “saroops” of Guru Granth Sahib has arrested another former SGPC employee Kanwaljit Singh as it conducted searches at 15 locations across Chandigarh, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Ropar on Saturday.Kanwaljit Singh was arrested from this residence located in Tarn Taran road area. He reportedly used to keep record of the published saroops.This is the second arrest in the case after the SIT held SGPC auditor Surinder Pal Singh Kohli from a Chandigarh hotel on Thursday.The searches on Saturday were carried out after the SIT obtained warrants from a local court. Kohli is currently in six-day police remand.Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who is supervising the investigation, said the SIT constituted by the state government was proceeding strictly on the basis of merit and evidence, and in accordance with the law.“The investigation is being conducted on the basis of the Ishar Singh Committee report that details the role of each accused, leading to the registration of the FIR,” Bhullar said, adding that each raiding team was headed by a gazetted officer.
He said searches were conducted at Kohli’s office and residence in Chandigarh, eight locations in Amritsar, and other places in Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Ropar. Any evidence seized during the operations would be placed on record, he added.
Sixteen persons, including former SGPC employees, have been booked by the city police on charges of sacrilege and tampering with documents related to sacred religious articles. The FIR was registered nearly five years after the matter first came to light.
SIT members also raided the residence of Amarjit Singh at Kahlwan village. Amarjit, a sewadar at Gurdwara Angitha Sahib, is among the 16 accused. The team returned empty-handed as he had gone abroad