Cloud Over SGPC’s Action Against Satinder Singh Kohli in Missing Birs Case

This week, chartered accountant Satinder Singh Kohli was arrested, highlighting alleged conflict-of-interest charges against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) regarding 328 missing Birs (copies) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Kohli, who is closely associated with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, was removed as the SGPC’s internal auditor in 2020. His removal followed allegations that his negligence allowed the mishandling of the Birs to go unnoticed.

Although the SGPC has taken formal action against Kohli, the credibility of these actions is questioned due to his alleged ties with the SAD(B), which holds a majority in the SGPC. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Balraj Pannu claimed that Kohli was arrested from a room booked under a name linked to a private news channel associated with Badal.

SGPC president and SAD(B) leader Harjinder Singh Dhami dismissed the allegations of conflict of interest. He stated that the SGPC is pursuing a case to recover over Rs 7 crore from Kohli’s firm, as directed by the Akal Takht Sahib.

On Tuesday, Dhami stated that the SGPC was complying with Akal Takht orders by filing a petition against Kohli at the Sikh Gurdwaras Judicial Commission (SGJC), which is led by Satnam Singh Kler. The SGJC handles cases related to SGPC-run gurdwaras, institutes, and employees under the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

Satnam Kler was appointed in 2016 when the SAD(B) was in power. His son, Arshdeep, is a core committee member of the SAD(B) led by Badal. Kler’s connections to the SGPC and SAD(B) were questioned in 2020 when he apologized for representing former Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini in a human rights violation case.

The SGPC’s case against Kohli has been pending in Kler’s court since 2021. When asked about its status, Kler stated he had no firsthand information.

Dhami defended Kler, emphasizing that judges are appointed through established procedures. In a separate matter, SGPC member and advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka represented Kohli in an Amritsar court during police remand hearings. Sialka is part of an SGPC subcommittee responsible for addressing those implicated in the missing Birs case.

Last month, Sialka briefed the media on the missing Birs issue on behalf of the SGPC. In 2020, he had to apologize to the Akal Takht after honoring police officer Paramraj Singh Umranangal, who was accused in the Behbal Kalan police firing case that resulted in the deaths of two Sikh activists.

Regarding Sialka’s representation of Kohli, Dhami emphasized the importance of professional boundaries, stating that lawyers defend clients in their personal capacity.