GMADA official sent to five-day police remand

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 24

Kiranpal Kataria, a senior assistant of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), has been sent to five-day police remand here today.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau sleuths, who had nabbed him while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 yesterday, demanded his seven-day remand on the plea that they have to further investigate his bank accounts, properties and other details, including involvement of other officials, if any, indulged in corruption along with him.

The local court granted his five-day police remand.

It is to be noted that this is the third such case in a span of two months when the Vigilance nabbed GMADA employees for alleged corruption. Before Kataria, the Vigilance had nabbed GMADA’s former acting chief engineer Surinder Pal Singh, aka Bhalwan, superintendent Narinder Pal Singh and peon Karan Singh.

The sources claimed that Kataria was shifted from his seat recently during large-scale transfers of several employees, mainly handling public dealing seats, within the department.

“Kataria was not leaving charge of the seat despite getting notice from the authorities for obvious reasons,” said the sources, claiming that such a notice was served to him only yesterday morning, just a few hours before his arrest.

Seven-day remand sought

Punjab Vigilance Bureau sleuths, who had nabbed Kiranpal Kataria, a senior assistant of GMADA, while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 on Friday, demanded his seven-day remand on the plea that they have to further investigate his bank accounts, properties and other details, including involvement of other officials, if any, indulged in corruption along with him.

Third such case in past two months

It is to be noted that this is the third such case in a span of two months when the Vigilance nabbed GMADA employees for alleged corruption. Before Kataria, the Vigilance had nabbed GMADA’s former acting chief engineer Surinder Pal Singh, aka Bhalwan, superintendent Narinder Pal Singh and peon Karan Singh.