Vigilance Bureau Busts Alleged Corruption in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Panchayat Secretary, former Sarpanch
Chandigarh, July 8, 2024:
In a crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested Mukhtiar Singh, Panchayat Secretary of Sona village, and Harbhajan Kaur, former Sarpanch of Hiala village, both in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. They are accused of misappropriating funds allocated for village development projects.
A VB spokesperson revealed the arrests stemmed from an inquiry into fraudulent activity involving grants received by the Gram Panchayat of Hiala.
The investigation, initiated under complaint number 13/2017/SBS Nagar, found that between 2008 and 2013, the Panchayat received a total of Rs. 16,45,000 for development works. Evidence suggests that then-Sarpanch Surjit Singh, acting Sarpanch/Member Panchayat Bakhshish Ram (deceased September 22nd, 2021), acting Sarpanch/Member Panchayat Harbhajan Kaur, and Panchayat Secretary Mukhtiar Singh allegedly committed irregularities. These irregularities involved submitting fake bills, receipts, and incomplete muster rolls to claim labor payments from the grants.
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Based on the investigation, a case was registered on July 8th, 2024, against the aforementioned individuals and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. These sections pertain to offenses like cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and criminal conspiracy related to public funds.
The arrested duo will be presented before a court tomorrow. The VB continues its investigation.
