The Punjab Cabinet has approved the prosecution of former forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in a high-profile corruption case, paving the way for legal proceedings under both the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, in a press conference today, announced that the decision follows an investigation by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which had registered an FIR against Dharamsot in June 2022. The inquiry revealed that the former minister allegedly accepted bribes amounting to ₹1.67 crore during his tenure, in exchange for illegal favours linked to the functioning of the Forest Department.
The Cabinet’s decision includes a recommendation sent to the Governor of Punjab, seeking formal sanction to prosecute the Congress leader. Once approved, the case will proceed in court.
The Vigilance Bureau’s findings have already drawn the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money-laundering angle. Earlier this year, the ED filed a supplementary prosecution complaint against Dharamsot, alleging that he not only accepted bribes but also amassed disproportionate assets. The agency claimed he generated “proceeds of crime” worth more than ₹1.7 crore, while additional assets worth over ₹6 crore were traced to him and his family.
In March 2024, charges under PMLA were framed against Dharamsot in a special Mohali court, and in subsequent filings, the ED attached immovable properties linked to him and associates. Despite securing bail in April this year from the Supreme Court, the former minister continues to face multiple probes.
The Cabinet’s move to press ahead with prosecution is seen as part of the state government’s renewed drive against corruption. Officials said the case would now be pursued “vigorously” in court to ensure accountability.
Dharamsot, a five-time MLA from Nabha, had served as Punjab’s Forest Minister in the previous Congress government. He was earlier arrested in 2022 in connection with a scholarship scam but later released on bail. The latest case, officials say, adds to the list of graft allegations dogging the veteran politician.
