Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has been in active mode since Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed government in the state. Vigilance is constantly registering cases against ministers, officers and officers and employees of the civil department under charges of corruption and arresting them.
According to the information, a total of 3,54,882 complaints have received by the vigilance in the last seven months. Of these, 5,551 complainants have also sent audio and video recordings as subat to vigilance along with the complaint.
A total of 2709 complaint cases have been referred to other concerned departments. As many as 221 complaints related to vigilance have been received along with audio-video recordings. Of these, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has registered a total of 50 FIRs at various police stations under anti-corruption action.
District-wise data of FIRs
Five cases have been registered in Amritsar, seven in Jalandhar, one in Jalandhar Rural, six in Ludhiana, one in Hoshiarpur, nine in Ferozepur, six in Rupnagar, six in Patiala, five in Bathinda and four in Flying Squad, Mohali. Further investigations are being conducted in all these cases by vigilance teams. Due to this, it may take some time to present the challan in the court.
68 accused arrested – 26 police officers and gazetted officers
The Vigilance Bureau has arrested a total of 68 accused in all the 50 cases registered. Many of them are currently in jail and many are out on bail. The arrested accused include 26 civilians, 20 police officials, 22 civil department officials and six gazetted officers. Departmental high officials are also calling for progress reports of the case from time to time from the investigating officers of these cases.
5 Congress ministers arrested
With the swearing-in of CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann on March 23, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau launched a campaign against corruption. As part of its anti-corruption action line, vigilance has also arrested five Congress ministers. These include former cabinet minister Vijay Singla from AAP, former Congress ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Sangat Singh Gilzian and Sunder Sham Arora. Former Public Works Minister Vijay Inder Singla from the Congress has also under the lense of the Vigilance.
The vigilance has arrested the former ministers under corruption charges in cases related to disproportionate assets, attempt to bribe and scam and other charges. Several ministers, including Sunder Sham Arora, are currently lodged in jail. While many are out on bail.
6 accused, including vigilance inspector, arrested in last 24 hours
Around six officers/employees have been arrested one after the other by various teams of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday. Among them, Inspector Amlok Singh, posted at the Bureau Range Office of Vigilance in Amritsar, was arrested on the demand of a bribe of Rs 5,000. Harbans Singh, a retired patwari, was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 13,000 in lieu of registering his death. While the principal of two schools has been arrested for misappropriating funds worth Rs 10,01,120, among others.