Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has initiated legal proceedings against a former chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and four former members for alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 312 medical officers (MO) during 2008-2009.  

Dr Satwant Singh Mohi, a former MLA from Shatrana and the then PPSC member, has been arrested in connection with the case, with raids underway to apprehend the remaining accused.  

An official spokesperson for the state VB revealed that the case was registered based on an enquiry report from a special investigation team (SIT). The accused individuals in this case include the PPSC’s former chairman late SK Sinha, and four members — late Brigadier (retired) DS Grewal, Dr Mohi, DS Mahal, Ravinder Kaur — the daughter-in-law of senior Congress leader and former Minister Lal Singh, and Anil Sarin — a BJP spokesperson.  

The genesis of the case dates back to November 22, 2013, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the formation of an SIT to investigate irregularities in the recruitment of 312 medical officers by the PPSC in two phases — that is for 100 and 212 posts.  

The Court's directive came in response to writ petitions challenging the alleged malpractices in the recruitment process. The matter was brought under the judicial scanner after a petition was filed in public interest by Punjab’s former director-general of police KPS Gill and other petitioners.  

The SIT, comprised of Joint Commissioner CBI (retired) MS Baali, and the then Director General (Vigilance) Suresh Arora, submitted a report to the High Court, outlining blatant irregularities in the selection process for the 312 doctors during the 2008-2009 period.  

Subsequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the VB police station in the Patiala range under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the former chairman and four members of the PPSC.