The Punjab Government on Thursday issued show-cause notice to Mohali Municipal Corporation Mayor Kulwant Singh for his removal from his councillorship, besides suspending two other officers on the charges of corruption.
Announcing, the State local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said: “The corrupt practices would not be tolerated at any cost, and as part of this commitment, the Mayor of Municipal Corporation, Mohali, Kulwant Singh has been given show-cause notice for his removal from his councillorship and two other officers have been suspended after taking strong note of the misdemeanours of these people regarding causing loss to the State exchequer.”
Sidhu said that 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, said Sidhu.
“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,” Sidhu said.
Sidhu said that the local Government Department got the probe conducted by the vigilance cell and the orders initiating action have been issued against the Mayor and officials found guilty in the report of the chief vigilance officer (CVO).
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Show-cause notice to Mohali Mayor for misuse of power
The orders placed for purchasing the machine have been cancelled promptly and the recovery of amount paid in advance to the contractor has also been ordered.
Acting on the report of the CVO, Mayor Kulwant Singh has been given show cause notice for his removal from his councillorship for misuse of power and causing financial loss to Municipal Corporation, Mohali.
Similarly, the then Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman has been chargesheeted in accordance with the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, Section 8 and case recommending his suspension has been sent to the concerned department.
Executive engineer Naresh Batta and another employee Vinayak have also been suspended in accordance to the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, Section 8.
“It is an article of faith with him to have zero tolerance towards corruption and nobody would be permitted to misuse the hard earned money of the taxpayers,” said Sidhu.Apart from this, ACE Mohinderpal and Surinder Goyal have both been charge-sheeted and recommendation has been made for charge-sheeting Internal local Fund Auditor of the Municipal Corporation, Mohali.