The Vigilance Bureau of Punjab has been tightening the screws on the ongoing corruption in the state. On the direction of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, the Vigilance Bureau has been in proactive mode. While there are many bureaucrats and politicians who have already been booked by the Vigilance, multiple builders of the State have come under the scanner of the Bureau. Builders' link with the tainted politicians and bureaucrats emerged during the ongoing crackdown on corruption by the Vigilance Bureau. As per Vigilance sources, the links of builders with the people involved in corruption popped up in their 8 months of investigation and in this, they found multiple properties registered under their wives, children, relatives, and friends' names. To be precise, the links of builders have popped up in misappropriate assets case.
Vigilance sources further revealed that some bureaucrats and politicians have showcased their children's and wives' earnings in crores. However, on digging further it came to light that one of the children was not even an adult. Not only this, one of the accused wife was a homemaker but a document was submitted showing that she earns in crores. The sources gave an insight into Zirakpur's EO Girish Verma's arrest. It was revealed that in this particular investigation builder, Ashu Goyal was arrested.
As per the Vigilance, Ashu Goyal, Vikash Verma, and Gaurav Gupta formed two companies and established colonies under it. Girish invested money into these colonies under the name of his son in order to turn his black money into white. Notably, the investigation is still going on and the Vigilance is preparing a list of their friends, family and relatives who might be involved in turning their black money into white. Notably, the Vigilance Bureau has also registered a case against Girish Verma's wife Sangeeta Sharma, and his son Vikash Verma. The Vigilance has been trying to find Girish Verma's link with any politician.
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As per the Bureau, this is not the only case. There are multiple cases under which the links of the builders have popped up and it is suggested that a racket is going on under which black money is turned into white. Notably, Vigilance has also got complaints about the presence of many big officers in the Jalandhar Housing Project. Many names against whom Vigilance has got the complaint are currently holding big portfolios as well.
As per the Vigilance, the real state nexus with the black money holders have increased in the past 20 years, especially in places like Mohali, Panchkula, New Chandigarh, and Kharar. These places are turning into a hub of Punjab's real estate. May big politicians and bureaucrats have invested in these real-state properties. All the builders in the project are currently under Vigilance radar. The bureau is trying to find out whether the money invested in this real estate is legit or not. It is pertinent to mention here that there are 25 to 30 cases currently with the Vigilance under which the builders of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala are also under scanner.