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Amritsar: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Punjab Police on Tuesday formally sought records from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in connection with its investigation into the case of 328 missing ‘saroops’ (sacred volumes) of the Guru Granth Sahib.

SIT members visited SGPC offices in both Amritsar and Chandigarh and submitted a written request seeking access to relevant documents and registers linked to the handling, storage and movement of the ‘saroops’.

“We met SGPC officials and handed over a written request for the records. They have assured us that the documents will be provided soon. Once the records are made available, we will be able to carry out a proper and comprehensive investigation,” SIT member Jagatpreet Singh told reporters in Amritsar.

The move comes a day after the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, directed the SGPC to extend cooperation to the Punjab government in the matter.

In his directive issued on Monday, the Jathedar said that in view of the confusion being created among the Sikh ‘sangat’ and keeping larger Panthic interests in mind, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami was authorised to cooperate with the government specifically with regard to the issue of the 328 missing sacred ‘saroops’.

The missing ‘saroops’ case has triggered significant religious and political debate in Punjab, with questions being raised over record-keeping, accountability and the handling of the Sikh religion’s holiest scripture. The SIT’s request for documents marks a key step in the ongoing probe, as investigators seek to establish the sequence of events and fix responsibility once the SGPC records are examined.