The Akal Takht officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, in a reverse stand, has directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to cooperate with the special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the state government in connection with the FIR filed over the 328 missing ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib. Earlier, during the last meeting of the five Sikh high priests, the Jathedar had instructed the SGPC not to cooperate with authorities in the matter. Clarifying the directive, the Jathedar said that while no government interference is allowed in the jurisdiction of the SGPC, the committee has been asked to cooperate with the SIT strictly concerning the misappropriation of the sacred saroops. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami has been authorised to provide due cooperation. “If the government requires any information from the SGPC for investigation, it may be examined at the SGPC’s Chandigarh sub-office in the presence of SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami,” the Jathedar said. On the issue of the 328 missing saroops, the Akal Takht had earlier constituted an inquiry commission headed by Telangana lawyer Ishar Singh. “The commission’s report clearly states that these sacred saroops were given to the sangat through collusion between concerned employees and officials, and the prescribed offerings (bheta) were neither deposited into trust funds nor were bills issued. This matter pertains to financial misappropriation by certain corrupt employees,” he added. The Ishar Singh Commission report, approved by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, names 16 accused persons, who have also been held guilty by the highest Sikh temporal seat. Following the orders, the SGPC has already taken departmental action against them. The Jathedar recalled that the then acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh, had stated on November 17, 2020, from the historic stage of Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, that this was a case of administrative corruption and that the employees found guilty had been dismissed. He further noted that the commission, on page 231 of the fourth part of its report, explicitly stated that no political party should attempt to derive political benefit from the issue, and that any party doing so would be accountable to Akal Takht and considered guilty of betraying Panthic interests. The Jathedar said that orders have already been issued that no political party, organisation, or individual should attempt to exploit this sensitive issue, warning that strict action will be taken against those seeking political mileage