Mr Puran Singh Josh, a senior ruling party member of the SGPC has alleged that precious stones, including diamonds, and ornaments had been found missing from the store of the Golden Temple. Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary SGPC, however denied this.

In a press statement here today, Mr Josh alleged that the jewellery, given as offering by the 'sangat', had remained untouched till Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was President of the SGPC. He said the precious jewellery was kept in the store on August 23 and 24, 1996.

He alleged five of the six trunks were taken atop 'Darshani Deori' and opened in his presence. However, the keys of the sixth box were found missing. He claimed the lock on the trunk was broken on his insistence. To the surprise of everybody, the box was found empty.

The press note alleged that the box was opened in the presence of 20 or 25 staff members of the SGPC.

Mr Josh said he had sent a note to the Secretary, SGPC, on October 31 and warned him to 'reveal all' by November 4 or else he would go to the press.

'To my surprise, I have received a reply that the precious stones and jewellery in the toshakhanna are in tact whereas I had mentioned jewellery in the inner storehouse of the Golden Temple, Mr Josh said.

He alleged that the President of the SGPC and senior staff members of the SGPC were involved in the 'missing' of precious stones but the matter was being hushed up. He demanded that the 'toshakhana' items be counted.

However, the Secretary of the SGPC denied that the precious stones were missing.