Making startling revelations on a massive scam involving approximately Rs 120.87 crores in Punjab’s Rural Development and Panchayat Department, the State Government on Friday charge-sheeted a dozen officials from the Department, including four Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), six Panchayat Secretaries, and six Sarpanchs.
The scandal centers around the fraudulent diversion of panchayat funds in Ludhiana. The audacious embezzlement was unveiled after rigorous scrutiny and investigation, underscoring a grim reality of corruption within the administration.
The state’s Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar directed the officials to file charges against several individuals involved.
The heart of the scandal revolves around the panchayats of villages Salempur, Sekhewal, Selkiana, Bounkar Gujran, Kadiana Khurd, and Dhanansu in Block Ludhiana-2. These panchayats were awarded a significant sum of Rs 252.94 crores following the acquisition of vast tracts of panchayat land. However, a staggering Rs 120.87 crores was illicitly withdrawn from these funds, highlighting the involvement of corrupt officers and department employees, as well as sarpanches.
Bhullar initiated a comprehensive probe on August 24. An investigation team was formed under the supervision of a Joint Director-level officer to delve into the intricacies of the fraudulent transactions. The investigation's findings revealed a pattern of mutual collusion among BDPOs, panchayat secretaries, and sarpanches. It was found that these individuals had clandestinely withdrawn Rs 120.87 crores from fixed deposits (FD) and utilized the funds without securing the necessary administrative and technical approvals from the Department.
The scandal implicated multiple villages, including Dhanansu, Sekhewal, Salempur, Kadiana Khurd, and Bounkar Gujran, where award money intended for land acquisition was diverted for unauthorized purposes. Notably, about 58 houses were constructed by the Dhanansu panchayat without following departmental policy or obtaining the necessary approvals, further intensifying the gravity of the situation.
In response to the preliminary investigation, the Minister unequivocally directed higher departmental officials to charge-sheet BDPOs — Rupinderjit Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Gurpreet Singh Mangat, and Simrat Kaur, as well as Panchayat Secretary — Gurmail Singh (now retired).
The list also includes Harpal Singh Randhawa, Bagga Singh, Jashandeep Chandel, Harpal Singh Sahjomajra, Harjit Singh Malhotra, Sarpanch Dhanansu Sudagar Singh, Sarpanch Salempur Neha, Sarpanch Sekhewal Amrik Kaur, Sarpanch Bounkar Gujran Mukhtiar Singh, Officiating Panch Bounkar Gujran Gurcharan Singh, Sarpanch Selkiana Harpreet Kaur, and Sarpanch Kadiana Khurd Rajinder Kaur.