VB arrests two MC clerks for missing policy records

The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, has arrested two clerks of the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, Ajay Kumar, posted at the law branch, Zone A, and Lakhvir Singh, posted at the tehbazaari wing, Zone C, after finding them guilty in a case of missing policy records of the corporation.

Stating this here today, a spokesperson for the state VB said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently passed an order to shift the temporary scooter market, situated on Gill Road, here, a khokha market in-front of the ITI and the car bazaar from the Feroze Gandhi Market, here. In this regard, a policy was framed by the then Mayor of the MC, Ludhiana, and he had passed a resolution in the General House meeting in 2010 and sought a report in this regard after constituting a committee. In 2010, the then Commissioner of the MC and the committee had made some suggestions regarding shifting of the scooter market, khokha market and the car bazaar.

The spokesperson said as per the orders of the high court, an inquiry was conducted by the VB, Ludhiana range.

As the original records pertaining to the policy were not provided by officials of the MC, Ludhiana, to the VB, Ludhiana range, on August 28, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed the order that “since serious issues as regard to the use of authority are reflected in the present case, the VB is directed to register an FIR in the incident, if documents are not handed over within seven days and thereafter to investigate the matter in accordance with law”.

He said a report from the MC Commissioner in this regard was received on September 3, stating that the original file was not traceable. During inquiry, clerk Lakhvir Singh had stated that the original file was given to Roni, another clerk, on November 24, 2019, at 7 pm at the camp office of the MC Commissioner and the clerk had died. During a probe, it was transpired that the file was received back by MC branch concerned.

The spokesperson said since the file was returned to the tehbazaari wing in December 2019, therefore, as per inquiry, clerks Lakhvir Singh and Ajay Kumar had been found guilty in the matter and a case had been registered against the duo.

He added that the role of other officials and employees of the MC would also be examined during further investigation.