Sukhpal Singh Khaira vows to continue fight against alleged corruption in government depts

Senior Congress leader and MLA from Kapurthala, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, on Thursday stated that he has not yet received any official defamation notice reportedly issued by the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Khaira said that he came to know about the matter only through media reports and has not been served with any formal legal communication.

According to reports, the notice was issued on the complaint of the Chief Minister’s OSD and sent via a local court. The hearing in the matter is reportedly scheduled for August 11. However, Khaira maintains that he has not received any such notice to date and suspects that the narrative is being driven through the media rather than proper legal channels.

Speaking to reporters, Khaira reiterated his allegations of corruption in the Punjab government, specifically targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of irregularities in the procurement of 144 Toyota Hilux vehicles, which he claims were purchased in the name of the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab. Calling the deal a clear case of corruption, Khaira alleged that senior AAP leaders are directly involved in the matter. “I want to put this on record — I will continue to raise the issue of the wrongful procurement of 144 Hilux vehicles by Bhagwant Mann in his capacity as Home Minister. This case is directly linked to corruption within the Aam Aadmi Party, and I will pursue it to its logical conclusion,” he said.

Khaira also criticised what he described as the biased nature of media coverage, accusing several outlets of presenting the story in a one-sided manner without seeking his version of events.

As the political row intensifies ahead of the August 11 court hearing, Khaira’s remarks are expected to escalate tensions between the opposition and the ruling AAP in Punjab. The Congress leader remains defiant, asserting that no legal intimidation will deter him from exposing what he calls “systemic corruption” under the Mann administration.