Six former SAD ministers, ex-chief parliamentary secretaries and MLAs come under the scanner of vigilance

    A senior vigilance bureau official disclosed that the bureau has initiated probe into cases of corruption and disproportionate income against more than six politicians belonging to the SAD who were ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries and MLAs during the SAD-BJP government in the state.

The Vigilance is also preparing to summon the Akali leaders. Vigilance officials said that for the past several months, the Bureau had been receiving complaints of irregularities and corruption in the departments during the SAD-BJP regime and preliminary fact finding reports were prepared from DSP and SP level officers to verify these complaints.

     The vigilance officials said that two former ministers Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon are facing investigation in the investigation of the alleged multi-crore scam in the irrigation department during the SAD-BJP government and in these cases, the fact-finding of cases of disproportionate income is also going on simultaneously.

In addition to this case, complaints of financial irregularities in education, rural development and panchayat and food and supplies departments have also been received, which are being verified. Vigilance officials say that the old records of the said departments will be examined. Similarly, in case of income disproportionate to sources, revenue department officials, special tehsildars and patwaris have been asked to provide records of land, properties of Akali leaders and bank accounts from bank officials.

Vigilance officials say that a fact-finding investigation is conducted before the legal action of the Vigilance against the concerned politicians. After that, a vigilance inquiry would be registered and a case was registered after collecting all the documents. The charge sheet along with all the evidence documents is filed in the court.

     The vigilance officials also said that after the formation of the AAP government, the cases of vigilance investigation are not used in laxity and all types of investigations are carried out in a professional manner so that the matter is proved correct in the court and the vigilance does not have to suffer. Vigilance officials said that around 200 personnel and officers from the rank of constable to SP are being deployed by the Punjab Police in the Bureau to deal with the cases of corruption and economic offences.