Ex-JIT chief moves VB over multi-crore graft case

A recent post uploaded by former Jalandhar Improvement Trust chairman on his Facebook page regarding a multi-crore corruption case in the Local Bodies Department has caused flutters in the civic bodies.

Ex-JIT chairman Jagtar S Sanghera has written, "The details of a 13-point case of open multi-crore corruption has been moved to the ADGP, Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Mohali headquarters. It was received in proper order in the VB office on November 6 at 1:28 pm. The evidences regarding the case have been kept safe. The case is so big that once registered, most cases lodged so far will appear smaller in comparison to it."

Sanghera has mentioned, "Senior government officials, big political thugs, private beneficiaries and middlemen are all set to get trapped. This case is dedicated to zero tolerance against corruption policy of the Punjab Government. Government positions are not necessary for fight against corruption. When the AAP supremo's struggle against corruption began, he did not fight it from a government chair. The details have already been brought to the attention of the Punjab Chief Minister".

Sanghera did not divulge any further details. He said the Punjab CM and VB officials are already privy to the matter.

Sources, however, revealed that the complaint pertained to an estimated fraud of Rs 500 crore. They said if the case got registered, at least two senior officials, who have earlier remained on the post of Chief Vigilance Officer and Chief Engineer in the Local Bodies Department, too, could be booked.

Sanghera, who is also the AAP spokesperson, joined as JIT chairman in November 2022 but was asked to step down in February this year. Months before his exit, he had put up cases of the alleged corruption in JIT over wrong allotment of prime properties in the Trust. He had also got an FIR registered against two officials in the JIT over missing files pertaining to allotment of plots of locally displaced persons.

Box -- Rs 500 cr fraud likely

The complaint pertained to an estimated fraud of Rs 500 crore. They said if the case got registered, at least two senior officials, who have earlier remained on the post of Chief Vigilance Officer and Chief Engineer in the Local Bodies Department, too, could be booked.