Baltej Pannu questions SGPC’s 15-day probe, seeks answers on Anandpur Sahib Sarai controversy
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 25, 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu on Friday questioned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) decision to constitute a four-member inquiry committee into the controversy surrounding a woman’s stay at an SGPC-run sarai at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The SGPC had constituted the committee on September 22 and asked it to submit its report within 15 days. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the committee would examine all aspects of the matter and that questions raised by the Sikh sangat would be answered after the inquiry.
Addressing a press conference, Pannu alleged that giving the committee 15 days could allow the issue to “cool down” and questioned why Dhami had not directly faced the media. He demanded that the SGPC answer questions being raised by the Sikh community instead of waiting for the inquiry report.
Pannu also questioned the composition of the committee, asking why an experienced retired Sikh judge or retired police officer with investigative and legal experience had not been included if the objective was to ensure an impartial inquiry.
The SGPC committee comprises executive member Baldev Singh Kaimpur and members Gurmeet Singh Booh, Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa and Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, with SGPC secretary Balwinder Singh Kahliwan as coordinator.
Pannu raised questions about the circumstances in which the woman stayed at the SGPC-run sarai, including who brought her there, how she was accommodated for an extended period and what the SGPC leadership knew about the matter.
He also questioned the alleged roles of Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer and Virsa Singh Valtoha in bringing the woman to the sarai and asked whether the inquiry committee would examine their involvement.
Pannu said the focus should remain on the circumstances surrounding the woman’s stay and the allegations under investigation rather than on her personal background. He questioned attempts to shift attention towards allegations concerning her past and said the central questions related to the functioning of the SGPC-run facility.
The AAP leader also questioned the silence of senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and BJP on the controversy. He named Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia, Partap Singh Bajwa and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and asked them to respond to the issues being raised.
Pannu also criticised the SGPC leadership over its handling of the controversy and questioned the broader role of political interests in Sikh institutional affairs. These were political allegations made by Pannu and were not independently established.
The controversy follows an FIR registered on August 21 at the Sri Anandpur Sahib police station following a complaint by a Bahrain-based woman. Reports have said the FIR contains allegations against former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SGPC subsequently accepted Chawla’s resignation and terminated the services of Additional Head Granthi Malkit Singh following action by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Dhami has said he did not know where the woman came from or who brought her to the institution, and that she had met him once or twice but had not informed him about any alleged misconduct. He has also called for a fair and transparent police investigation.
Pannu said the SGPC must provide clear answers to the Sikh sangat on the circumstances surrounding the matter and the functioning of its institutions.