2026’s First Big Arrest: Badal’s close aide, a CA, arrested by Punjab Police SIT; Patiala connection emerges
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 1,2026
Satinder Singh Kohli, former CA of the SGPC, is said to be close to the Badal family has been arrested by the special investigation team (SIT) from a Chandigarh’s hotel. Kohli’s services as an auditor for the SGPC were terminated in August 2020 following the inquiry report’s recommendations.
Recently Kohli and eight others recently had their pleas for anticipatory bail dismissed by a local court. Other co-accused have been granted interim relief against arrest by another court. After the dismissal of anticipatory bail, the police came into action mode and today arrested Kohli, one of the main accused in the case of missing 328 saroops (holy scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib.
The FIR was registered on December 7,2025 against 16 individuals in connection with the missing saroops, nearly five years after the matter came to light, on the complaint of sacked Golden Temple hazuri raagi Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, who is head of Sikh Sadbhawna Dal. Sections 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship or sacred object with intent to insult a religion), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 465 (forgery) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code were slapped at the Division-C police station in Amritsar.
On December 22,2025 a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Punjab Bureau of Investigation to probe the case related to the alleged disappearance of 328 saroops (holy scriptures). According to the order issued by LK Yadav, director, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, the SIT will be headed by Jagatpreet Singh, AIG Vigilance, SAS Nagar, as chairman. The other members of the team include Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, DCP (Investigation) Amritsar; Harpal Singh , Additional DCP, Police Commissionerate, Amritsar; Gurbans Singh Bains SP(D), Patiala; Beant Juneja, ACP Ludhiana; and Harminder Singh, ACP(D) Police Commissionerate, Amritsar.
The issue involves the alleged disappearance and misappropriation of 328 saroops (holy scriptures) of the Guru Granth Sahib between 2013 and 2015, which was exposed by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation in 2020. An inquiry report by an Akal Takht-appointed panel found negligence and record tampering by SGPC staff.
SIT Members Patiala Connection
To a news agency, AAP leader Baltej Singh Pannu said “A petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the missing 328 swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib. The High Court directed further investigation, based on which an FIR was registered and an SIT was formed. The SIT received information that this CA is associated with the Badal family and has also audited SGPC accounts… Arrest warrants had been issued against 15–16 people, and an LOC was also issued. He had been in hiding for some time, and based on police information, he was arrested from a hotel in Chandigarh.”
The case is registered in Amritsar and the SIT is formed under the command of joint director (AIG/ SP ranked officer) vigilance posted at Mohali.
As per unconfirmed reports, a senior AAP leader from Patiala is playing an active role in the issue that involves the alleged disappearance and misappropriation of 328 saroops (holy scriptures) of the Guru Granth Sahib. He played an important role in constituting, selecting SIT members to keep an eye on the progress of this important issue. Three out of six SIT members including the chairman Jagatpreet Singh, PPS and two other members have Patiala connection.
Jagatpreet Singh, PPS remained posted as SSP Vigilance Bureau Patiala for many years. Later he was shifted to Ludhiana where he was suspended in June 2025. He was reinstated on November 21,2025 and placed their services at the disposal of vigilance bureau on December 4,2025. For 15 days no posting is given to him in the bureau. On December 19,2025 Punjab government had posted Jagatpreet Singh, as Joint Director, IVC&SU, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab and made SIT Chairman after 2 days of his appointment.
Other member who is related to Patiala is Gurbans Singh Bains who is presently posted as SP(D), Patiala. He is a neighbor of senior AAP leader from Patiala Baltej Singh Pannu.
Beant Juneja, ACP Ludhiana is recently promoted as DSP from inspector. He is a brother of AAP leader from Patiala-Harpal Juneja who is close confidant to senior AAP leader from Patiala Baltej Singh Pannu.
