Twenty-four councillors, out of total 37, of Mohali Municipal Corporation on Friday passed a resolution against Punjab local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu a day after he decided to issue a show-cause notice to Mohali mayor Kulwant Singh on the charges of corruption.
A day after flip flop over Mayor Kulwant Singh’s suspension to issuing a show cause notice for buying tree-pruning machine at higher rates, he declared to file a defamation suit against Sidhu “for spreading baseless information of his suspension from mayoral position”.
On Thursday, a Press statement was issued on behalf of local Government Minister Sidhu that Mayor Kulwant Singh has been suspended, which was changed, after about three hours, to show cause notice.
Mayor lashed out at Sidhu for conveying the “suspension” orders to the media through official release which amounted to “defaming” him in public eye. “I am consulting with my legal team. The Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu will be made party among others for causing hurt to my reputation,” he said.
The notice was, however, issued on Friday to the Mayor, setting a week’s deadline for him to respond.
In the general house meeting of Mohali MC, scheduled for Friday, the issue of Kulwant Singh’s “suspension” was discussed at length.
In an apparent setback to Sidhu, Congress councillors also came in favour of their Mayor Kulwant Singh saying that the resolution to buy the tree-pruning machine was passed in the House meeting with their consent. Of the total 37 councillors, 24 passed a resolution against Sidhu terming the Minister’s move as “wrong”.
At the same time, Kulwant Singh has challenged Sidhu to buy a cheap machine, and he was ready to face the punishment.
The Government has issued show-cause notice to Mohali mayor Kulwant Singh for his removal from his councillorship for his removal from his councillorship after taking strong note of the misdemeanours of these people regarding causing loss to the state exchequer. Besides, two other officers have been suspended on the charges of corruption.
The case, recommending suspension of the then Commissioner, has also been sent to the Government, besides charge-sheeting two other officials.
It had come to the notice of the Department that Kulwant Singh, in connivance with then Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman and other officials, indulged in misuse of his position and caused a loss to the state exchequer while making a purchase of the tree pruning machine.
The machine was priced at Rs 28 lakh in the country, while for making its purchase from abroad, the price was Rs 80 lakh. But a resolution was passed by the municipal corporation for purchasing it at an exorbitant price of Rs 1.79 crore and orders were placed for its purchase.
After conducting a probe by the local Government Department’s vigilance cell, the orders initiating action have been issued against the Mayor and officials found guilty in the report of the chief vigilance officer (CVO).
The orders placed for purchasing the machine have also been cancelled promptly and the recovery of amount paid in advance to the contractor has also been ordered.