There is panic in the Congress party in Punjab after the arrest of the former minister of Punjab and senior Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Vigilance Bureau is investigating the scholarship scam as well as the health, agriculture, water, and panchayat departments.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is in continuous action against former Congress ministers. In the corruption case, after Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Bharat Bhushan Ashu was arrested by Vigilance. Former Forest Minister Sangat Singh Giljian is out on bail. Vigilance has so far arrested close to a dozen Congress leaders.
At the same time, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Bajwa and OP Soni are on the radar of the AAP government. Former CM Charanjit Channi is also on the radar of action in the matter of grant distribution. Earlier, former MLA Joginderpal Bhoa has been arrested in an illegal mining case. The role of former MLA Madanlal Jalalpur is suspected in the Panchayati Fund scam.
Vigilance sources said that on more than two dozen Congress leaders, including former ministers, former and current MLAs and constituency in-charges the sword of vigilance action is hanging.
According to vigilance officials, the cases of excess income from sources by Congress leaders and officers are also being investigated. After the formation of the 'AAP government in the state, the officials of the Vigilance Bureau at the government level have been instructed to investigate and take action on the financial irregularities that occurred during the Congress government.
Officials claimed that legal action is being taken only after the information is collected. According to the sources, the role of around 110 Congress leaders is being investigated in the case of financial transactions related to transport, labor and other works in the food and civil supplies department. The officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department also said that during the Congress government, an IAS was appointed by the politicians while allotting tenders to arbitrary contractors. The action against some Congress leaders connected with mining is now under discussion.
The government has also given instructions to collect concrete facts regarding the scam in the irrigation department during the Akali-BJP government. In this matter, the role of former ministers belonging to Akali Dal and three IAS officers posted in this department is being investigated.
Not only former Congress minister but also former CM Captain Amarinder Singh is on the radar in the machinery scam of 150 crores. Captain then also looked after the Agriculture Ministry. There is no trace of the 150 crore worth of machines purchased at that time.