Punjab (The Stellar News) Saksham Kalia: Former Punjab Ministers are on the eye of central investigating agencies, as some of the ministers are booked and exposing the nexus of corruption. In a recent arrest of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot by the Vigilence Bureau for approving permits as Forest Minister by taking bribe. While Sangat Singh Gilzian, Forest Minister in Charanjit Singh Channi’s cabinet also booked in the FIR lodged in the case.
The whole story started with a complaint lodged by a colonizer against DFO Mohali Gurmanpreet Singh and contractor Harmohinder singh aka Hammy for demanding bribe. While investigation, both of them committed to have links with government officials and politicians. In this case another FIR has been lodged against the IFS Amit Chohan, DFO Gurmanpreet Singh, Forest Guard Dilpreet Singh, Sangat Singh Gilzian, OSD of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot Chamkour Singh, Kawaljeet Singh Khanna, Sangat Singh Gilzian Kulvinder Singh Shergill and Sachin Kumar.
The details of corruption were disclosed by the diary of contractor who gave corruption money. As per the details disclosed by the diary, Rs 1000 bribe was distributed by the contractor on per tree. From this amount, Rs 500 went to the pocket of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Rs 200 to Range Officer and Rs 100-100 to Block officer and Forest Guard.
While investigating it is also found that Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, his OSD Chamkour Singh and reporter Kamaljeet Singh use to take Rs 10-20 lakhs bribe for the transfer of DFO officer, Rs 5-8 lakhs for the Ranger post, for the Block officer transfer the rate was Rs 2-3 lakhs.
Gilzian also earned a lot of money while his tenure as Forest Minister, as per details Gilzian as approved to buy 80000 tree guards and set his amount of bribe per tree guard. In this Gilzian favoured Sachin contractor as the only seller for all 80000 tree guards. Gilzian set his bribe amount as Rs 800 per tree guard, that takes his total bribe to Rs 6,40,00,000.
This case has exposed the nexus of corruption running in the foundation system of Punjab, but the main thing is that the ministers are being booked but why the officers involved in this corruption cases are enjoying freedom till now.
