Vigilance Bureau arrests Panchayat Secretary, former Sarpanch for embezzlement in Panchayat funds

Chandigarh July 8, 2024 -

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Monday, has arrested Mukhtiar Singh, Panchayat Secretary, a resident of village Sona, and Harbhajan Kaur, former Sarpanch of village Hiala in district Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar for committing misappropriation in Panchayat funds received from the state government for development works.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered against both the said accused and others based on an inquiry regarding the fraud committed in the grants received by the Gram Panchayat Hiala.

Giving more details in this regard, he added that during the investigation of a complaint number 13/2017/SBS Nagar, it was found that Gram Panchayat Hiala had received a total of 9 grants totaling Rs.16,45,000 from the year 2008 to the year 2013 for execution of development works in the village. In this regard, the then Sarpanch Surjit Singh, acting Sarpanch/Member Panchayat Bakhshish Ram, who has died on 22.09.2021), acting Sarpanch/Member Panchayat Harbhajan Kaur and Panchayat Secretary Mukhtiar Singh have committed grave irregularities in the said grants by submitting fake bills/receipts and incomplete muster rolls for payment to the labour out of these grants.

He informed that based on the enquiry a case on date 08.07.2024 under sections 420, 406, 409, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC and 13(1)(a)read with 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the said accused and others at VB police station Jalandhar range. Both the aforementioned accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation into this case was under progress.

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