India, Jan. 12 -- In a significant shift in stance, Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to cooperate with the Punjab government regarding the case of 328 missing sacred saroops (scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib.

The directive comes days after the Sikh clergy had initially termed government interference in the matter as "not in the Panth's interest". The jathedar has now authorised SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to provide required information to investigators at its Chandigarh sub-office.

The case pertains to the misappropriation of sacred saroops from the SGPC's publishing house. An internal inquiry by the Ishar Singh Commission previously fou...