Gurdwara Tarn Taran Sahib land sold cheap to Dhami’s aides: Ex-jathedar Ranjit Singh

Former Akal Takht jathedar Ranjit Singh today accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of selling four plots, which were donated to Gurdwara Tarn Taran Sahib, to close associates of its president Harjinder Singh Dhami at low rates. The committee has refuted the allegation.

Addressing mediapersons here today, the former jathedar alleged that the SGPC had earlier made several attempts to sell the properties near the gurdwara in Tarn Taran. Since there were no bids, the properties could not be sold. Ranjit Singh alleged that this time, the SGPC sold the properties to Dhami’s cronies without inviting bids. “Properties with market value of Rs 70 lakh, Rs 60 lakh and Rs 50 lakh were sold for Rs 20 lakh, Rs 16 lakh and Rs 9 lakh, respectively,” he alleged.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh and deputy secretary Gurnam Singh refuted the allegation in a press release. They claimed that the SGPC in-house committee had decided to sell the land, which was not being used by the gurdwara and was encroached upon by people, on the recommendations of the property sub-committee.

They said the SGPC sold it through open bidding by issuing regular advertisements, adding that though the location of the property was near the city, its market rate was low due to narrow streets. They claimed that had the value been higher, the SGPC would not have had to cancel the auction on a number of occasions for want of bidders.

They reasoned that if the former jathedar found the price low, then instead of Rs 60 lakh, he should deposit only Rs 55 lakh with the gurdwara and the SGPC would hand over the land to him after cancelling the bid.