Vigilance Bureau arrests retired head teacher, clerk for Rs 36 lakhs embezzlement in salaries

Chandigarh 27 October, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has arrested two accused involved in usurping salaries amounting to Rs 36,67,601 for their personal benefits who were evading their arrests since last four years. The accused have been identified as Gurmel Singh, Head Teacher (Now retired), and a Clerk Sukhwinder Singh (Terminated from job), posted in Government High School Talwandi Madho, Jalandhar district.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said this case was registered after an investigation on a complaint filed by then District Education Officer Jalandhar.

He further revealed that during the probe it was found that both the accused in connivance with each other had committed a fraud in the salaries from the years 2015 to 2017 and deposited Rs 35,81,429 as monthly payments in the accounts of their four relatives showing them as teachers in the school. Moreover the accused clerk Sukhvinder Singh had deposited Rs 86,172 from 2013 to 2015 with forged signatures of Satpal Singh, then Drawing and Disbursing Officer of Government Senior Secondary School Nihaluwal, Jalandhar district.

In this regard a case was registered under FIR no. 53, dated 20-03-2018 under section 409, 420, 120-B of IPC and under section 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act at police station Shahkot, district Jalandhar against the accused head teacher Gurmel Singh, Clerk Sukhwinder Singh, and his relatives Satnam Singh, Amritpal Singh, Ranjit Kaur Warraich and Gurvinder Kaur.

The spokesperson added that both the aforementioned arrested accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and the remaining accused would be arrested soon. Further investigation into this case was under progress.

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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan reviews paddy procurement in 6 mandis of Faridkot District

13.60 LMT paddy procured out of 16.62 LMT in Kotkapura

Speaker directs Officers to ensure safeguarding interests of all stakeholders

Chandigarh, October 27:With a view to take stock of the paddy procurement during the ongoing season, the Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today visited the Anaj Mandis at Kotkapura, Dheemanwali, Fidde Kalan, Khara and Pakka village and interacted with the farmers and the labourers.

The Speaker also held a meeting with the DFSC and other senior officers during the course of which he was apprised that in Kotkapura mandi 16.62 LMT of paddy has arrived out of which 13.60 LMT has been procured. The lifting figure stands at 6.94 LMT.

Besides, as per the procurement data concerning 68 mandis and 20 provisional procurement centers in the District, Pungrain has procured 66977 MT, Markfed 45215.3 MT, PUNSUP 48461 MT, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 22092 MT and private players have procured 1144 MT. Out of the procured stock, 134635 MT stands lifted.

The Speaker directed the officers to ensure that all the stakeholders i.e. Farmers, Arhtiyas, Millers and the Labourers face no difficulty in the mandis and a successful as well as the hassle free procurement season is ensured.

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PUNJAB POLICE MAKES STATE’S BIGGEST HEROIN SEIZURE: TWO HELD WITH 105-KG HEROIN, SIX WEAPONS

— POLICE TEAMS ALSO RECOVER 31.93KG CAFFEINE ANHYDROUS AND 17KG DMR BEING USED AS MULTIPLYING AGENT TO INCREASE HEROIN QUANTITY BY FOUR TIMES, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNBAB A DRUG-FREE STATE

— TURKEY-BASED SMUGGLER NAVPREET SINGH ALIAS NAV BHULLAR BEHIND THIS PAK-BACKED CROSS-BORDER SMUGGLING RACKET: DGP PUNJAB

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, October 27:In one of the largest ever heroin seizures in the state amidst the ongoing war against drugs, Punjab Police has busted a cross-border smuggling racket after arresting two associates of Turkey-based drug smuggler Navpreet Singh alias Nav Bhullar and recovered 105kg heroin and six weapons— including five foreign made pistols and one country made pistol— from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

Those arrested have been identified as Navjot Singh, a resident of Guru Tegh Bahadur Colony in Baba Bakala, Amritsar and Lovepreet Kumar, a resident of Kala Sanghian in Kapurthala.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that apart from recovering big haul of heroin, the police teams have also recovered huge quantity of scheduled drugs, including 31.93 Kg Caffeine Anhydrous and 17 Kg dextromethorphan (DMR), from their possession. “Investigations revealed that the accused persons were using these scheduled drugs as multiplying agent to increase the heroin quantity by four times,” he said.

Sharing operation details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the team of Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar received an intel-input that a foreign-based smuggler Navpreet Singh alias Nav Bhullar has been operating a Pak-backed cross-border smuggling racket using his associates camped at rented accommodation at Colony Lady Road in Baba Bakala.

Acting swiftly, an intelligence-led operation was launched and a special checkpoint was established under the supervision of DSP CI Amritsar Balbir Singh in the area of Baba Bakala, leading to the arrest of accused persons Navjot Singh and Lovepreet Kumar and recovery of 7Kg Heroin from their Volkswagen Virtus car (PB02-DY-3031), in which they were travelling, he said, while adding that the police teams have also impounded the car.

The DGP said that on the basis of disclosure statements of the arrested accused persons, police teams have recovered remaining 98kg heroin along with weapons, Caffeine Anhydrous and DMR from their rented premises. Route of smuggling the narcotic consignment is being investigated, he said.

Further investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case and police teams are on manhunt to arrest more criminals involved in the drug cartel.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 62 dated 26.10.2024 has been registered under section 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.

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Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Made Surprise Inspection of Ongoing Paddy Procurement in Dirba

Expresses Satisfaction Over Paddy Procurement and Lifting Process

Reaffirms Punjab Government Stands Firm with Farmers and Sheller Owners

Chandigarh/Dirba/Sangrur, October 27-In order to ensure a smooth and efficient paddy procurement process, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday conducted a surprise inspection of the government purchase of paddy at Anaj Mandi Dirba and reviewed the lifting of paddy purchased by various procurement agencies.

During the inspection, the Finance Minister directed the officers of the concerned departments to ensure the timely procurement, lifting, and payment to farmers throughout the entire paddy season, adhering strictly to the deadlines set by the Punjab Government.

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing procurement and lifting processes at the grain market. He affirmed that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, stands firm with farmers, Aartis, and sheller owners. Minister Cheema acknowledged the cooperation of sheller owners with the Punjab government, which has facilitated the smooth progression of the lifting process. He emphasized the importance of purchasing the crops from farmers who bring dry paddy to the grain markets on a priority basis, ensuring that farmers can celebrate Diwali with their families.

During his interaction with the media, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the Punjab government's serious commitment to resolving farmers' issues. He highlighted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has been continuously engaging with Union Government ministers to address these concerns.

In response to queries about the GST department, Minister Cheema stated that officials have been strictly instructed not to harass traders during the festive season. He assured that any officer or employee found violating these instructions would face strict action.

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Vigilance Awareness Week from 28th Oct to 3rd Nov

Punjab to continue its zero tolerance policy towards corruption : CM Bhagwant Singh Mann

VB to organise statewide campaign for creating awareness across Punjab : Varinder Kumar Special DGP VB

Chandigarh October 27, 2024 - In a bid to promote transparency, accountability, probity and integrity in the society, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) will observe the annual Vigilance Awareness Week from 28th October to 3rd November in the state to sensitize citizens and public servants about administration free of corrupt practices.

On the occasion Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has reiterated that Punjab Government would continue its zero tolerance policy towards corruption and vows to deal with it with an iron hand.

He stated that corruption is as dangerous as a heinous crime committed against the integrity and dignity of a state and its citizens whether committed by service providers or seekers.

Punjab CM said “It is my dream to see a corruption-free Punjab with everlasting development of private and public sector bringing and maintaining smiles on the faces of the people, especially the youth of Punjab”. He appealed to the public to cooperate with the government in its anti corruption campaign for providing corruption free administration in the state.

Sh Varinder Kumar, special DGP-cum-Chief Director Vigilance Bureau said the state VB is fully committed to this cause under the able guidance of Punjab CM with an objective to make Punjab as free of corrupt practices. The VB Chief asked the officers/officials to work efficiently and clear the backlog of pending vigilance cases.

He informed that this year the motto of vigilance awareness week is ‘culture of integrity for the prosperity of nation’ as conceived by the Central Vigilance Commission. During this this outreach activities the Bureau would conduct activities in educational institutions and other places related to creating awareness among the citizens in all the 7 ranges in the state. All VB SSPs and field officers would interact with public and message regarding fight against corruption would be spread to the general public.

He further stated that the VB had registered 673 corruption cases since March 2022 to till date. During the investigation of these cases total 758 accused have been arrested.

“With the objective of citizen friendly complaint system, Anti-Corruption Action Line WhatsApp Message no. 9501-200-200 was started by Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Maan in 2022 and Bureau had registered 189 FIRs after recieving information on this action line.