SGPC member booked for fraud

Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 16

The Amritsar police have booked Avtar Singh Ria, SGPC member from Fatehgarh Sahib district, on charges of duping an SGPC employee on the pretext of regularising his services.

The matter came to light when Karamjit Singh Bunty (21), SGPC employee posted at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, reportedly committed suicide. His body was found from a railway track on October 10. He was a native of Verka in Amritsar district.

Before ending his life, he posted a video on Facebook, alleging Ria took money from him, promising a regular job.

Bunty’s father, Jatinder Singh, said his son had struck a deal with Ria for Rs 2 lakh and gave him Rs 50,000 in advance by taking a loan.

Ria, however, neither got him a regular job nor returned the money.

Sources said the matter was brought to the notice of SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar. “On Badungar’s direction, Ria returned the money. But he started mentally harassing my son. On October 10, he left home never to return,” Jatinder said.

Badungar said a three-member committee had been constituted to probe the allegation against Ria. “The committee will submit its report in two days. It will be taken up in the executive committee meeting on November 7,” he said on the sidelines of Khalsai Khed Mela.

Ria could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.