In a major development, former Punjab Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Dr. Vijay Singla has been given a clean chit by the Punjab Police in the 2022 corruption case that had led to his dramatic ouster from the cabinet. The Mohali police are now preparing to submit a closure report in court, citing a lack of evidence to proceed against the former minister.
The case dates back to May 2022, when Singla and his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Pradeep Kumar were accused of demanding 1% commission, amounting to Rs 1.16 crore, on contracts worth Rs 58 crore in the Punjab Health System Corporation. A complaint was filed by government engineer Rajinder Singh, who was then on deputation with the department.
According to reports, complainant Rajinder Singh has also agreed with the closure report in his statement given in the court. The Mohali court will pronounce its verdict on the closure report on July 14.
However, police officials have confirmed that the investigation into the role of OSD Pradeep Kumar is still going on. A charge sheet has already been filed against him.
Rajinder Singh, a government engineer working on deputation in the Punjab Health System Corporation, had complained in May 2022 and alleged that Pradeep Kumar had demanded 1% commission (about Rs 1.16 crore) on work contracts worth Rs 58 crore. This also included Rs 17 crore already paid to the contractors.
Mohali Vigilance Wing of the Punjab Police had registered a case against Minister Singla. According to this, the minister and his close ones had demanded 1% commission in the tender. The officer had complained about this to CM Bhagwant Mann. Information about this reached CM Mann on 14 May 2022.
The case drew massive political attention after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann publicly sacked Singla in May 2022, citing zero tolerance for corruption. Mann had acted after receiving an internal complaint from Rajinder Singh and allegedly conducted a sting operation using his internal team. The sting reportedly captured Singla’s aides demanding a bribe euphemistically referred to as “Shukrana” (thanksgiving). The bribe demand allegedly originated from a contractor in Bathinda, and a close relative of the minister was also suspected of involvement.