Chandigarh, February 15,
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Harjit Singh , the former Sarpanch of village Kalia, and Manjit Singh , the Lambardar of village Sakatra in Tarn Taran district, for embezzling Rs 20 lakh from flood relief compensation funds intended for farmers and other flood-affected individuals.
A VB spokesperson disclosed the details today, stating that the arrests were made following an investigation into a complaint filed by Harnand Singh , who served as the Sarpanch of village Kalia until 2019.
Fraudulent Scheme Uncovered
During the verification of the complaint, it was revealed that the accused had engaged in a fraudulent scheme by opening bank accounts in the names of beneficiaries, including ineligible individuals, in collusion with bank officials. They withheld the account documents of the beneficiaries, enabling them to withdraw and misappropriate the relief funds disbursed by the Punjab government.
The state authorities had sanctioned Rs 30 lakh as compensation for damages caused to crops and property due to floods. However, the accused managed to siphon off Rs 20,11,475 from the total amount.
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Legal Action Taken
A case has been registered against both accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB Police Station, Amritsar range. The accused will be produced before the competent court tomorrow. Further investigations are being carried out by the VB Unit in Tarn Taran to uncover any additional irregularities or accomplices involved in the scam.
Crackdown on Corruption
This arrest underscores the Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring accountability in the distribution of government funds meant for welfare purposes. The bureau has urged citizens to report any suspicious activities or misuse of public funds to aid in their ongoing anti-corruption drive.
The case highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight and transparency in the disbursement of relief funds to prevent such fraudulent practices and ensure that aid reaches those who genuinely need it.
