BJP seeks inquiry by sitting HC judge or ED into bribery charge

State BJP vice-president Arvind Khanna, who is also a former Sangrur MLA, today demanded an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or a sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana Court into an alleged involvement of lakhs of rupees in election to the post of president of the Bhawanigarh Truck Operators’ Union.

At the time of the elections yesterday, Manjit Singh Kaka, a truck operator claimant to the post, had “consumed some poisonous substance” after someone else was appointed the president of the union even as he was allegedly promised the post for a sum of Rs 30 lakh.

Khanna said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had always claimed that there was zero tolerance towards corruption in his government. He said Mann should now order an inquiry by a sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court or hand over the investigation to the ED as “black money” was involved in the incident.

He said a video had gone viral showing wherein Kaka levelled allegations on MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj in this regard. There was a need for a probe to identify the source of such a huge amount and the person to whom the money was given, he added.

Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj, in a video message, had claimed that she had nothing to do with the election. She said she had asked the police to conduct an investigation into the viral video related to Rs 30 lakh and make its report public.

SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal today said the truck operator was under treatment at a hospital in Patiala and his statement was yet to be recorded. Further action into the matter would be taken after recording Kaka’s statement, he added.