Vigilance Bureau arrests Naib Tehsildar wanted in guava compensation scam

Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday has arrested Jaskaran Singh Brar, Naib-Tehsildar, who was co-accused in the multi crore guava compensation scam in Mohali after he surrendered before the Bureau.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said Jaskaran Singh Brar was nominated as an accused after his role was revealed during investigation that he connived with the main accused in releasing wrongful compensation to illegal beneficiaries. Before release of payments, it had surfaced on record that names and shares of some landowners were not in accordance with the revenue records and some names have been added in the list of the beneficiaries wrongly without any basis as they had purchased land after issuance of notification under section 11 of the Land Aquisition Act.

Moreover, the said Naib Tehsildar had ignored tampered Khasra girdawari records and committed undue haste in recommending the release of payments by dealing the noting file thrice in a single day.

The spokesperson informed that initially Brar was granted interim relief with directions to join investigation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court vide its order dated 11/12/2023. Subsequently, he joined the investigation but remained non-cooperative with the Bureau. After this the VB had vehemently opposed his bail application and eventually filed 2 replies/ affidavits against his petition and rejoinder.

He further added that after numerous hearings and detailed arguments the High Court vide detailed order of 25 pages dated 20/03/2024 has dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.

Thereafter, Jaskaran Singh Brar continuously remained absconding and filed special leave petition seeking anticipatory bail in the Supreme Court of India.

On 27/8/2024, after hearing about the role of the accused in this hundred crore scam and his conduct of remaining evasive of his official duties by managing various kinds of leaves to avoid the process of law, the Supreme Court had also dismissed his anticipatory bail petition and further directed him to surrender before the VB investigation officer within one week.

The spokesperson informed that the said accused Naib Tehsildar has surrendered at VB police station, Flying Squad, Punjab at Mohali and was duly arrested for further investigation in this case.