Ludhiana streetlight scam: VB nominates Punjab Congress secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu

LUDHIANA: In the case of embezzlement of funds in installation of streetlights in Ludhiana’s Sidhwan Bet, the Vigilance Bureau on Monday nominated Punjab congress secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu, who was former political advisor to the former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
The embezzlement is approving the purchase of street lights on much higher rates, against the approved rates and even that three days before the resolution of installing street lights was passed by the Block Samiti. According to the information, Captain Sandhu’s name was taken by the arrested accused Satwinder Singh Kang, Block Development Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Sidhwan Bet block.
Earlier on September 28, the VB had nominated Captain Sandhu’s distant relative Harpreet Singh of Mukatsar Sahib, too.
The Vigilance Bureau officials said that during investigation of an enquiry it was found that Satwinder Singh BDPO (now under suspension) during his posting in the Sidhwan Bet block had received an official grant for installation of street lights in 26 villages. In order to embezzle the funds the said BDPO in criminal connivance with Gaurav Sharma, proprietor of M/s Amar Electrical Enterprises, had deliberately purchased the lights at a cost of Rs 7,288 per light against the approved rate of Rs 3,325. In this way he had misappropriated Government grants to the tune of Rs 65 lakh for his own use and caused financial loss to the state exchequer, he added.
The resolution to install street lights was passed on December 30, 2021 by the members of Block Samiti Sidhwan Bet but the accused BDPO approved quotation on December 27, 2021 before the resolution was passed. In order to usurp the funds the above-mentioned BDPO had also prepared a completion certificate even though the street lights were not installed at all in the 26 villages.
On September 27, the VB had arrested BDPO Kang, Lakhwinder Singh Chairman Block Samiti Sidhwan Bet for misappropriation in the Government funds to the tune of Rs 65 lakh for purchasing street lights at the double cost than the approved rate which were to be installed in 26 villages. VB had also booked Gaurav Sharma, proprietor of M/s Amar Electrical Enterprises. The bureau also arrested Village Development Officer (VDO) Teja Singh in the case who had also signed the completion certificate citing the installation of street lights had been done, though the work was not completed.
A vigilance official said, “The BDPO Kang had written to his senior official, and also gave the same statements to the VB, that he did everything on the direction of Capt Sandeep Sandhu and his relative Harpreet Singh. Harpreet Singh had taken BDPO to a residential locality on South city road to make him meet Capt Sandhu. There, Sandhu verbally had ordered BDPO to release the funds.”
Captain Sandeep Sandhu did not respond to the calls for his statement.
Besides, on Tuesday proprietor Gaurav Sharma’s anticipatory bail was dismissed by the additional session judge Dr Ajit Atri.