Vigilance arrests ex-chairman market committee in embezzlement of Rs 55 lakh during acquisition of land

Ferozepur (Punjab) [India], February 22 (ANI): The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state on Wednesday arrested an ex-chairman of the market committee Khemkaran Amritbir Singh, a resident of village Aasal Utaar, Tarntaran district for committing embezzlement of Rs 55,54,118 during the acquisition of land in connivance with revenue halqa Palla Megha Patwari Balkar Singh and a private person Billu Singh of village Palla Megha, said a press release.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said during the investigation of a vigilance enquiry, it was found that the Punjab government had acquired land measuring 46 Kanals for the BSF to set up a new border outpost at New Mohammadi Wala near village Palla Megha in the year 2002 to 2012, added the press release.
He further added that the above said accused Patwari, who has been dismissed as Kanugo, in connivance with other two private persons Billu Singh of Palla Megha, and Amritbir Singh of village Aasal Utaar, had misappropriated Rs 1,11,08,236 in the said land acquisition case.
The accused Patwari in connivance with other accused had distorted the revenue record and entered the names of the above-mentioned co-accused as owners of the said land. Subsequently, Patwari managed to release two bank cheques of compensation amounting to Rs 55,54,118 each on the basis of forged revenue records to both the above-said co-accused on 07-11-2012. In addition to this, the accused Patwari had acquired private land measuring 16 Kanals and 16 Marlas instead of the acquisition of adjoining government land in order to provide financial benefit to the other accused and himself.
The spokesperson further added that on the basis of this vigilance enquiry, a case FIR No 05, dated 21-02-2023, under sections 218, 409, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC and 13(1)(a), 13(2) of prevention of corruption act has been registered at VB police station Ferozepur. Further investigation in this regard was under progress. The roles of other officers/officials related to the land acquisition process would also be examined and the remaining accused would be arrested soon as the teams have already been formed, he added. (ANI)