SIT formed in connection with case of 328 holy saroops interfering in administrative powers of SGPC: Advocate Dhami

-Says, Special Investigation Team is seeking unnecessary information

Amritsar, May 26 , Kanwar Partap Singh

President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, has raised serious objections over the functioning of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Punjab Government in connection with the case of 328 holy saroops. He said the SIT is going beyond its jurisdiction and unnecessarily interfering in the internal and administrative affairs of the SGPC.
He stated in clear terms that, under the guise of investigation, attempts are being made to undermine the constitutional status of the Sikh community’s premier religious institution, which cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
Advocate Dhami said that the SGPC has, from the very beginning, cooperated with the investigation team with complete sincerity and transparency. He said that keeping in view the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, every required piece of information and assistance was provided to the SIT. However, instead of appreciating this cooperation, the SIT has made the SGPC’s administrative and internal matters part of its agenda.
He said the SIT has continuously been seeking information that has no connection whatsoever with the case of the 328 holy saroops.
Expressing objection, the SGPC president said that demanding details of the SGPC’s financial accounts, bank transactions and overall financial records does not fall within the SIT’s jurisdiction. He alleged that at times the SIT has sent its representatives to banks to gather account details, while on other occasions detailed financial information has been sought through official letters.
He further said that the SIT has now also sought details regarding agreements signed over a long period in the past with private channels ETC and G Next Media concerning Gurbani Kirtan broadcast, despite these having no relation to the case of the 328 holy saroops.
He added that information already submitted to the SIT is repeatedly being sought again through fresh letters.
“All this is being done beyond the original purpose of the investigation,” he said, adding that the nature of the questions being asked and the arbitrary demands for information indicate that the SIT may be working with motives unrelated to the actual probe.
Advocate Dhami said it appears that the Punjab Government, through the SIT, is attempting to target the constitutional rights of the Sikh community’s apex institution. He said this is not merely an issue concerning the SGPC, but a sensitive matter linked to the autonomy and rights of Sikh institutions.
He asked the SIT not to exceed its authority and to confine itself strictly to the investigation of the 328 holy saroops case.