Dr Sheharyar said that rare journals and periodicals, 18 volumes pertaining to paintings, and other material was still missing. He said while the value of books and other material was Rs 23 lakh, the value of rare manuscripts, handwritten Guru Granth Sahibs and edicts could not be assessed.

Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a former secretary of the SGPC, endorsed the statement of Mr Nanda that the invaluable material was first taken to a youth hostel before being taken to an unknown place.

Mr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, secretary, SGPC, said that the stand of the SGPC stood vindicated that the rare material was still with the CBI even 16 years after Operation Bluestar. He said a deputation of the SGPC would meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to seek his immediate intervention in getting back the material of Sikh Reference Library.

Mr Nanda disclosed that the CBI was desperately looking for the purported letter of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, written to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale. However, he said, he had seen some letters written by Jagjit Singh Chohan and other leaders addressed to Sant Bhinderanwale. Mr Calcutta had alleged that the Army had set the Sikh Reference Library on fire in desperation when it failed to find a letter of Indira Gandhi.
Mr Nanda claimed that he had enough proof to substantiate his claim that the CBI had taken invaluable material from the Sikh Reference Library.

Interestingly, the conflicting statements of Mr George Fernandes, have created a confusion of sorts of this issue. Responding to a letter of the SGPC on March 27 last, Mr Fernandes had informed Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, that 'the books and documents that were recovered from the Sikh Reference Library, Golden Temple, had been handed over to the CBI by the Army'. The letter of Mr Fernandes was received by the SGPC on May 10. He had advised the SGPC authorities to contact the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, under which the CBI falls, to get the material back'.