IEP Chandigarh January 4-
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign in the state, has registered cases against two sarpanches and two panchayat secretaries on charges of embezzlement of lakhs of rupees in village development works.
Giving this information, a spokesperson of VB said during the investigation it has came to light that Sarabjit Singh, former sarpanch, of village Alal, district Sangrur and Naresh Kumar Singla, panchayat secretary (retd), have committed misappropriation of an amount of Rs. 2,00,927 in panchayat funds and other construction related material. Both the accused have been arrested under FIR number 01 dated 01-04-2024 under sections 409 and 120-B of the IPC and 13(1)-A and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act registered in the police station of Vigilance Bureau, Patiala range.
In a separate case, during investigation, Jatinder Singh, Sarpanch of Village Chandu, District Sangrur and Gurmeet Singh, panchayat secretary have been found guilty of embezzlement of about Rs 74 lakh in the development works conducted in the said village from January 2019 to March 31, 2022. In this regard a FIR number 43, dated 13-12-2023, has been registered against both the accused under section 409 and 120-B of the IPC and 13(1)-A and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the Patiala range police station of the Vigilance Bureau. In this case Sarpanch Jatinder Singh has been arrested and further investigation into the case was under progress.
