Land deals by Sandhu’s aide: VB looks for money trail

Ludhiana: The vigilance bureau, which has questioned an aide of Captain Sandeep Sandhu, political adviser to former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, is looking for the money trail behind more than 100 “land-related transactions” by him.
On Wednesday, Ludhiana vigilance bureau had questioned Manpreet Singh of Issewal village, an aide of Captain Sandeep Sandhu, in connection with the alleged food grain transportation tender scam. The bureau had allegedly found that Manpreet and his wife had got 100 properties registered in their names since January 2022. The bureau suspected that the scam money to have been used in these properties.

The VB officials said the department has compiled a list of land transactions by Manpreet and is verifying the registries of lands which are mostly in an area near his village.
Ludhiana senior superintendent of police (vigilance) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu said they are checking the registries of the land transactions done by Manpreet.
Vigilance sources said as Manpreet is considered close to Captain Sandhu, vigilance may seek some answers from the latter. They said the bureau is also exploring the money trail, if any, involved in the land related transactions by Manpreet.
Sources said in his reply to questions posed by the bureau, Manpreet maintained that he had bought the land for companies, including a real estate company, and not for himself. They said Manpreet has maintained that he has all the records related to transactions and has not done anything wrong.
Sources said during questioning, Manpreet has maintained that as a Congress worker he has maintained relation with Captain Sandeep Sandhu who had contested assembly elections from Dakha segment, of which his village is part, but he doesn’t have any “money-related link” with him or other Congress leaders. They said he has refuted having close links with former minister Ashu.
“Though Manpreet has provided details about the land-related transactions, he can be called for questioning in coming days,” sources said.