2015 Bargari Gurudwara sacrilege: P&H High Court refuses to quash FIR against Simranjit Singh Bains
Notably, a series of desecration incidents took place in the state of Punjab that began with the theft of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village of Faridkot in June 2015.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to quash the FIR against former MLA Simranjit Singh Bains, involved in the protests against the incident at Bargari Gurudwara sacrilege.
In an unfortunate incident at Bargari Gurudwara sacrilege of the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib was reported. This led to protest in different parts of the State, and there were firing incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan on 14.10.2015. Against all this various protest marches were organized including the one at Ludhiana.
Allegedly, Simranjit Singh Bains M.L.A alongwith his accomplices Daljit Singh Bhola MC, Gurpreet Singh Gora Mc, Randhir Sibia MC and 50/60 other persons instigated the people against the Punjab Government and to interfere the routine life of the people was instigating his accomplices.
The FIR was statedly lodged for political reasons. Therefore, on a change of Government, a Commission was constituted which inquired into false cases/FIRs registered during the last ten years, it was by a retired High Court Judge with a retired District and Sessions judge as a member. The instant FIR was also inquired into.
Later a cancellation report was filed which was not accepted by the Magistrate who had directed further investigation into the case.
Before the High Court, petitioners contended that after recommendation of the Commission to cancel the FIR, no fresh material could be collected against the petitioners.
Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya noted that Bains being a political leader was leading a protest at Ludhiana against the incident of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib Ji in the State of Punjab.
"He along with his supporters allegedly violated certain prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 Cr.P.C., and told his driver to run the vehicle over the police party. The police officials present there saved themselves from this attack with great difficulty. On a complaint by the petitioner no.1, the registration of FIR was examined by the Commission constituted by the Government to enquire into false cases, and recommended cancellation of FIR against him. This recommendation was not binding on the Magistrate; besides, it was to cancel the FIR only against one of the accused. Accordingly, no exception can be taken to the order, dated 06.03.2019, directing further investigation of the case passed by learned Magistrate", the judge noted.
Accordingly, the High Court refused the petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR No. 207 dated 21.10.2015, registered under Sections 186, 332, 353, 188 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
Notably, a series of desecration incidents took place in the state of Punjab that began with the theft of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village of Faridkot in June 2015. Subsequently, in September, handwritten sacrilegious posters against the holy book sprung up in Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari villages in Faridkot.
Later several torn angs (pages) of the book were found strewn near a gurudwara in Bargari in October 2015. As a result, massive protests erupted in the state. The investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation in November by the then coalition government of Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP. In June 2019, the federal agency filed a closure report revealing that no incriminating evidence was found against followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda cult. Self-styled Godman Ram Rahim was nominated as the key conspirator by the police.
Case Title: Daljit Singh Grewal alias Bhola and others Versus State of Punjab and others
Order Date: November 29, 2025