Punjab vigilance cracks whip on former Congress ministers Dharamsot, Gilzian

Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has filed a case against former Forest Minister and senior Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. Chamkaur Singh, OSD to the former minister and a retired department officer, has been named as a witness in the case.

Confirming this development, a senior vigilance official mentioned that Chamkaur Singh, approved by the court, has provided his statement. Currently in judicial custody following the ED’s arrest, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot faces increased legal challenges from both the Vigilance and ED.

The former minister was previously arrested by the Vigilance in a corruption case and later in a case of disproportionate income. Ongoing ED proceedings have also accused him of corruption. Another Congress leader, former Forest Minister Sangat Singh Gilzian, and the nephew of the Congress leader were named in the case by the Vigilance.

The appointment of Chamkaur Singh as a witness is said to strengthen the corruption case, potentially complicating matters for Gilzian and his nephew.

The Vigilance registered the case in June 2022, issuing permits for the felling of khair trees on Dharamsot, as well as overseeing officials’ transfers and procurement processes, along with granting no-objection certificates (NOC). The allegations involve organized corruption related to the issuance of permits.

According to the Vigilance, contractor Harmohinder Singh alias Hami engaged in cutting and selling khair trees, obtaining permits from the forest department. Payments for these permits involved bribes, with Dharamsot allegedly receiving Rs 500 per tree, the divisional forest officer Rs 200, and range officer, block officer, and forest guard Rs 100 each.

The Vigilance asserts that Dharamsot, his OSD Chamkaur Singh, and the accused Kamaljit Singh received bribes for various official transfers.

The Vigilance further claims that Harmohinder Singh paid a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to Gilzian through Kulwinder Singh for a permit to fell khair trees in Mohali district.

Gilzian allegedly directed the purchase of tree guards exclusively from Sachin Kumar. A case was registered against Gilzian’s PA Kulwinder Singh Shergill and Sachin Kumar, along with others involved in the alleged corruption.