In a trendsetting step, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sacked cabinet minister Dr. Vijay Singla who was taking 1 % commission from every purchase tender of the health department.
In a televised address, CM Mann said that the matter was known to him only and he could have suppressed it but since he was committed to giving a corruption-free government he decided to dismiss the minister.
Mann revealed that the minister had confessed to his deeds.
The CM also directed the police to register an FIR against Dr. Singla and investigate the matter. Reiterating the party's resolve to cleanse the administration, Mann said that there had been Chief Ministers who knew that majority of the MLAs were involved in illegal mining but they shirked from taking action.
He said the Punjab government would follow the principles set by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and no one at which ever position he or she was would be spared if found guilty of corruption.
Singla had defeated Sidhu Moosewala from the Mansa constituency with a heavy margin of votes.