Punjab

Former CM Channi to be questioned today in corruption case

Punjab News: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has summoned former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and he will be questioning today. Confirming this, a senior vigilance official said that the Ropar unit of the Bureau had initiated a probe against the former chief minister in cases of corruption and disproportionate income for the past several months.

The former chief minister has been summoned to verify the facts initially collected by the Vigilance during the probe and obtain other documents. Vigilance officials say that Channi will be questioned at the vigilance headquarters. Vigilance sources said that details of assets and bank accounts etc. are also being sought from the former chief minister so that the investigation can be carried forward.
The Vigilance had earlier initiated a probe against more than half a dozen former Congress ministers and arrested three former ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sunder Sham Arora and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. Significantly, for the first time in the last six years, the Vigilance has initiated an inquiry against a former Chief Minister.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had also initiated an inquiry into a case related to the Hospitality Department and the matter is also being linked to Charanjit Singh Channi.
The vigilance had earlier arrested a sarpanch close to the former chief minister. In this way, the vigilance had been widening the scope of investigation against the former chief minister for the last several months. The bureau has also issued a look out circular against the former chief minister.