Stationery scam: Vigilance raids on Sangrur traders

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 8

Following the registration of a case against JR Printers of Sangrur, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday raided the residences of owners of Mittal Traders. The case pertains to the alleged embezzlement of Rs 37.50 lakh of the Kharar block samiti.

As per the charges, the accused in connivance with some Panchayat Department officers showed the sale of stationery worth Rs 37.50 lakh to the block samiti for further supply to panchayats. Following complaints, the VB found that no stationery was supplied and fake entries were made in records.

“We have registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Jatinder Singh Dhillon, the then BDPO Kharar; Punit Mittal, Rajinderpal Mittal and Jeetpal Mittal, all partners of JR Printers; and Resham Singh, chairman, block samiti; for embezzlement of government funds,” said DSP Ravinder Singh, who led the raiding team.

Resham Singh was arrested on Thursday evening while the remaining accused are absconding. The VB team searched all three residences of Mittals in Punia Colony here, but failed to arrest any accused.

Later, the VB team also conducted a search on the premises of Mittal Traders, located at Nabha Gate here.

“Dhillon and Resham Singh had misused their official position to buy stationery items without approval from the higher authorities,” said the DSP.

Surinderpal Mittal, a brother of the accused, denied the allegations and said all material was supplied as the requirement of the block samiti and the officials had released the payment only after receiving the material.