The desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab has been a deeply sensitive and contentious issue, leading to widespread public outcry and demands for justice. Despite assurances from political leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal that the perpetrators would be apprehended swiftly, progress has been inconsistent over the past several years.
In 2015, a series of sacrilege incidents involving the Guru Granth Sahib occurred in Punjab, notably in Bargari village, Faridkot district. These events led to significant unrest and protests across the state. During this period, Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and then Chief Minister of Delhi, pledged that if AAP came to power in Punjab, those responsible for the desecration would face exemplary punishment. In October 2015, Jagdeep Singh, a gurdwara granthi (priest), was arrested in Amritsar district for allegedly fabricating a story about an attack on the gurdwara and desecration of the holy book. Balwinder Kaur, a 53-year-old woman, was arrested in Ludhiana for allegedly desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib.
In June 2018, Jagtar Singh, another gurdwara priest, was arrested in connection with the desecration of the holy book in a Punjab village.
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In July 2020, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested seven individuals linked to the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib theft case. Despite these arrests, many believe that the main conspirators and those who orchestrated these sacrilegious acts remain at large, leading to public frustration and skepticism about the effectiveness of the investigations.In May 2023, Sandeep Bareta, a member of Dera Sacha Sauda and a key conspirator in the 2015 sacrilege case, was apprehended at Bengaluru airport. Bareta had been declared a fugitive and was wanted in connection with the desecration incidents in Bargari village. Additionally, in February 2025, a 55-year-old woman named Paramjit Kaur was arrested for allegedly attempting to desecrate a gurdwara in Adampur.
The slow pace of justice and perceived inaction have led to widespread protests and demands for accountability. Sikh bodies have organized marches and demonstrations, emphasizing the need for prompt and decisive action against those responsible for desecrating their holy scripture. The community’s frustration is further compounded by the belief that political assurances have not translated into concrete results, leaving many to question the commitment of authorities to uphold the sanctity of their religious texts and bring the culprits to justice.
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In summary, while there have been some arrests and developments in the investigation of the Guru Granth Sahib desecration cases, significant concerns remain about the overall progress and effectiveness of these efforts. The Sikh community continues to seek justice and urges authorities to fulfill their promises to apprehend all those responsible for these grievous acts.