Rs 6.5-lakh transfer adds new twist to Punjab minister-bizman row

The controversy involving minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and Zaildar Innovations took a fresh turn after Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal transferred Rs 6.50 lakh to the firm through a bank transaction.

Owner of Zaildar Innovations Gurmeet Singh said the amount had been received from Dhaliwal. However, he questioned the timing of the payment, asking why it was made after nearly two years. “If he had to pay, why did he wait so long? I don’t know whether the payment was made out of humanity or if there is some conspiracy behind it,” he said. Neither Dhaliwal nor Mundian could be contacted for comments despite repeatedly calls.

Gurmeet Singh said while the dues might have been cleared, the “sufferings, threats, humiliation and firing incidents” allegedly faced by the firm remained unaddressed. “Justice for that is still pending,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, “Now that the truth behind the whole incident has come out, I demand that Dhaliwal should be removed as the spokesman and Mundian should resign as the MLA.”

SAD leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia demanded the immediate arrest of both Mundian and Dhaliwal, alleging that the payment amounted to an admission of guilt. Majithia claimed the money trail proved that the trolley was not voluntarily given, but taken under pressure.