Guava Plants Compensation Scam: Vigilance Bureau Arrests Another Retired Patwari 

19th arrest in multi-crore scam

Chandigarh: Amidst its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday arrested another retired Patwari Surinderpal, who was posted at office of Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), in connection with multi-crore Guava trees compensation scam. This is the 19th arrest in the scam wherein compensation worth crores of rupees was wrongfully claimed in lieu of land acquired by GMADA at village Bakarpur in SAS Nagar (Mohali) district.

Notably, the said accused’s colleague, Patwari Surinderpal Singh was also arrested yesterday from Sri Muktsar Sahib.

An official spokesperson of the VB said that the accused Surinderpal had reported wrong information, which led to the undue compensation to the accused beneficiaries. The accused Patwari also had not raised any objection on the differences in the names and shares of some landowners as per the Revenue Records in the assessment report, which was sent by the Horticulture Department to LAC for further disbursement of compensation. Rather, the Patwari reported that the compensation amount may be approved in accordance with the report of the Horticulture department. On the basis of this note, Naib- Tehsildar forwarded the matter to the then LAC, who released the payments thereafter.

The Spokesperson said that Surinderpal resident of MIG Flats, Sector-70, Mohali has been arrested today after nominating him as an accused in the multi-crore Guava plants compensation scam.