Muktsar co-op society under scanner for Rs4.75 lakh fraud

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 24

The functioning of Harike Kalan Cooperative Society Limited in Muktsar district is under the scanner as its former secretary and president allegedly sanctioned loans to 19 women on fictitious names under the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti scheme in 2011 and 2012.

The issue came to light when four members of the society lodged a complaint in this regard to the Chief Minister, SSP, Vigilance, and Deputy Commissioner alleging that the society had sanctioned a loan of Rs 25,000 to each woman to start her own venture.

Thereafter, the inspectors of the cooperative department conducted a probe and found the allegations true. Harnek Singh, a cooperative inspector, who investigated the matter, said, “During investigation it is found that Rs4.75 lakh was given to 19 women as loan on fictitious names. None of them were found on the addresses given. The fraud seems to have been committed by the former secretary of the Harike Kalan Cooperative Society and the then manager of Central Cooperative Bank, Bariwala branch.”

He said, “We are expecting to unearth some more fraud thus investigating it thoroughly. The accused have now deposited the loan amount of Rs 4.75 lakh in the bank and its interest amount of Rs 2,72,070 as well.”

Meanwhile, Jaswinder Singh, president of the society, said, “I admit that fraud has been done but I have not played any role in it. My fake signatures were used to grant loan to 19 women on fictitious names. I was unaware of the issue.”

Gurnam Singh, former secretary of the Harike Kalan Cooperative Society Limited, said, “I am under pressure and can’t comment over this controversy.”

Harike Kalan Cooperative Society Limited is set up for three villages, Harike Kalan, Smagh and Kothe Bahadurgarh. All these villages fall in the Gidderbaha Assembly Segment.

Courtesy: The Tribune

59,712 ineligible Atta-Dal beneficiaries in Muktsar

The new list

• The district had 5,76,551 Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries. The number has now come down to 5,16,839
• The total number of Blue Cards meant for the scheme were 1,45,555 in the district, which has now come down to 1,39,376 after the verification process

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 24

After declaring 13,410 persons as ineligible beneficiaries of the old-age pension scheme, the Muktsar district administration has now found 59,712 beneficiaries of the state government’s populist Atta-Dal scheme to be ineligible. As many as 6,179 Blue Cards meant for the Atta-Dal scheme have been found bogus after verification, which was completed recently.

Earlier, the district had 5,76,551 Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries. The number has now come down to 5,16,839.

The total number of Blue Cards meant for the scheme were 1,45,555 in the district, which have now come down to 1,39,376 after the verification process.

A perusal of data procured from the district food and civil supplies office reveals that in Malout sub-division, as many as 63,005 Blue Cards were found genuine and there were 2,34,677 beneficiaries. Similarly, in Muktsar sub-division, the total eligible Blue Cards were 43,091 and the number of beneficiaries was 1,61,273. In Gidderbaha sub-division, there are a total of 33,280 genuine Blue Cards and 1,20,889 genuine beneficiaries now.

A Blue Card is issued to one household, listing the total number of family members as beneficiaries.

Geeta Bishambu, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC), Muktsar, said, “The verification process was recently completed, which was done with utmost care. Still, if any genuine beneficiary has been removed from the list, he/she may approach us.”

“A total number of 6,179 card-holders have been found ineligible in the district. There are various reasons for this. Either such beneficiaries fell in higher income group or someone changed his/her address or was found dead.”

The state government had ordered the verification of all beneficiaries in November last yeat after “irregularities” were alleged in the making of Blue Cards.

The beneficiaries are awaiting the supply, which was reportedly suspended due to the verification process. Sources said the government was mulling to release 10 months of wheat and pulses in one go.

As per the scheme, each beneficiary is entitled to 5-kg wheat and 500-gm pulses per month, with 2.5-kg pulses fixed as the higher limit per family per month. There is no upper cap in case of the wheat distribution.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badal seeks report in land grab case

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 24

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought a report in the alleged land grab case wherein an SHO has been suspended.

Sources said the Chief Minister spoke to Muktsar SSP Kuldeep Chahal over the phone. “The CM has appreciated the steps taken by the police in the case. He directed the SSP to expose all those involved in this illegal activity,” said a source.

Chahal said: “As per our preliminary investigations, Balwinder Singh Pinder Sarpanch is the main accused in this case. His interrogation will lead us to expose the entire network, which he or his patron was operating in the area. We are getting a number of land grab complaints against him.”

The district police today filed an application in the court seeking the police remand of Balwinder Singh who is presently in judicial custody. On court orders, Pinder Sarpanch was taken to the Civil Hospital yesterday for a medical check-up. Pinder’s counsel has alleged that he was tortured by the police.

Courtesy: The Tribune

SHO suspended, SAD leader arrested in land grab case; Role of Muktsar DSP, former India hockey player, under scanner

SHO suspended, SAD leader arrested in land grab case

Role of Muktsar DSP, former India hockey player, under scanner

The conspiracy

• Pal Singh of Chuhad Chak Vadha village alleges that his brother-in-law Kaku Singh of Rupana village is mentally unfit
• He claims that the joint ancestral land of Kaku and his sisters is being cultivated by Kaku’s cousin Darshan Singh
• Pal alleges Darshan wanted the land to be transferred in Kaku’s name with the sisters not being given any share
• He further states that, therefore, Darshan abducted Kaku’s sister Tirpal Kaur
• Darshan Singh claims to be innocent
• He alleges SAD leader Baljeet Singh “Pinder Sarpanch” attempted to grab the land of his cousin Kaku Singh

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 23

The functioning of Muktsar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), City, Kanwalpreet Chahal, a former India hockey player, has reportedly come under the scanner in a case of land grab. Gurinderjit Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), city police station, has been suspended and local SAD leader Baljeet Singh “Pinder Sarpanch” arrested in the case. Bajleet has been sent to judicial remand for 14 days.

Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Chahal said the SHO was suspended for having mala fide intention in a land-grab case. “The SHO didn’t verify the facts and registered a kidnapping case against some persons. DSP Kanwalpreet’s role has also come under the scanner. An inquiry has been marked to SP (H) and SP (D) Muktsar. Further, we have arrested the man who planned to grab the land in Rupana village,” said the SSP. He further said the DSP was on ex-India leave and that the inquiry officer would record his statement upon his return.

On the basis of the investigation report of Superintendent of Police (H) Narinderpal Singh, Pinder Sarpanch has been arrested. He is also facing charges of attempt to murder.

“The preliminary investigations suggested that Pinder had planned to grab some agricultural land near a paper mill in Rupana village. The DSP is said to be a close friend of his. The DSP had directed the SHO to register a case against three persons at City Muktsar police station,” said the SSP.

On reports that the accused DSP directed the SHO to register the case after discussing the matter with senior officers, the SSP said they were verifying the facts. He said the police were getting a number of complaints related to land grabbing against Pinder.

A senior police officer said many land-grab cases were expected to be unearthed now. “We are suspecting two-three more persons to be involved in the case,” he added.

The police registered a case of kidnapping on May 7 against three persons, including two brothers Darshan Singh, Balwinder Singh of Muktsar town and Baljeet Kaur of Rupana village on the complaint of Pal Singh of Chuhad Chak Vadha village in Moga district. The complainant had alleged that his brother-in-law Kaku Singh of Rupana village was mentally unfit and the joint ancestral land of Kaku and his sisters was being cultivated by Kaku’s cousin Darshan Singh. He alleged Darshan wanted the land to be transferred in Kaku’s name with the sisters not being given any share. Pal further alleged that, therefore, Darshan abducted Kaku’s sister Tirpal Kaur. On the other hand, Darshan Singh approached the SSP, claiming to be innocent.

Courtesy: The Tribune

CM assures funds to Muktsar jail

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 18

Taking note of the report “Muktsar jail sets example in reforming inmates” in The Tribune today, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has assured the Deputy Superintendent of Muktsar jail, Kulwant Singh, of all possible help and adequate funds to carry on with the reformation of inmates.

Kulwant Singh said, “The Chief Minister personally spoke to me over the phone this morning. He appreciated the steps taken by us in the jail to reform inmates and assured adequate funds for the reformation activities and infrastructure.”

“Besides, the Chief Minister has called me to meet him at Badal village on June 21,” he added.

Meanwhile, the sub-jail authorities today received the government notification stating that the jail had been given the status of district jail. “After receiving the notification, we have started the process of mentioning this jail as district jail in our records,” said the deputy superintendent.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar jail sets example in reforming inmates

Abuzz with activities

• A host of activities — from yoga to playing music instruments and performing bhangra, learning stitching, typing, Urdu, screen printing, gardening, etc. — take place on thejail premises
• Inmates can, therefore, channelise their energy in a constructive way

Prisoners meditate inside the Muktsar sub-jail on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 17

While most of the prisons in the state are infamous for one or the other reason, the sub-jail in Muktsar is setting an example by starting a number of activities to reform its inmates.

Though it has more than double its capacity of 69 inmates, the authorities are ensuring reformation activities for all its 145 inmates. These include meditation, yoga, bhangra, tailoring, gardening, education, typing in Punjabi, hair dressing, playing tabla and harmonium and screen printing of cards.

The jail has 77 undertrials and 68 convicts, who begin the day with the recital of Japji Sahib’s “path”, followed by yoga class for an hour till 8 am. Thereafter, inmates meditate for about 20 minutes and then they have their breakfast.

Kulwant Singh, Deputy Superintendent, Sub-Jail, Muktsar, said, “Yoga and meditation have decreased the need of medication among inmates. Earlier, a general check-up of 35 to 40 inmates was being done every day. However, medication is now required for only four or five inmates.”

He said nearly 20 inmates had shown their willingness to study and they were being taught inside the jail from 10.30 am to 11.30 am. Some of them are also learning Urdu. Notably, jail inmates are provided education by their co-inmates.

The inmates are sent to their barracks around 12 noon. They stay there till 3 pm.

“Prisoners are also human beings. They too possess some good qualities. There is a need to identify their good qualities and channelise their energy in the right direction,” said Kulwant Singh, who took charge as the jailer here about three months ago.

In the evening, inmates are given training in musical instruments such as tabla and harmonium. Besides, a few of them are learning the techniques of tailoring from an inmate. “Our staff keep an eye on them when they are engaged in any task to ensure that no untoward incident takes place,” said Kulwant Singh.

Some inmates have even started ironing clothes. Some people have donated books to set up a library inside the jail. Further, an inmate helps the authorities with clerical work, as the jail does not have any clerk. “We have no pendency of computer-related work just because an inmate is helping us with it. Though a clerk from Bathinda jail is given additional charge, he comes once a week,” said Kulwant Singh.

He said, “Being the sub-jail, there is no provision of paying wages to inmates for the work being done by them. Moreover, wages have to be paid if they work for eight hours a day. We get work from them just to keep them busy and that too for nearly three hours a day.”

Before sending them back to their barracks around 7.45 pm, the “path” of Rehraas Sahib is recited.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Now, CM, deputy CM’s photos on RO water cards

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The new (above) and old card (below) issued to a consumer to get purified water from RO plants. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 12

The controversy over Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s photo on “108” ambulance vehicles is yet to die down, but now the photos of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and chairman of District Planning Committee Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy Dhillon’ have come up on the cards required to get purified water from the reverse osmosis (RO) plants in Gidderbaha sub-division of Muktsar district.

Dimpy is SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency in charge as well. Further, the slogan of the SAD-BJP government “raaj nahi sewa” (service, not rule) is inscribed on the cards.

Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Gurusar village in Gidderbaha sub-division, said, “I had gone to the RO plant today to get water and the operator handed over a new card having photos of CM, Deputy CM and chairman of District Planning Committee. I don’t have any problem with the photos of these politicians printed on the cards. But are they providing us purified water free of cost? If not, then why are they trying to get political mileage from it?”

He said that the water charges had been slashed from Rs 90 to Rs 80 per month for 20 litres per day.

In the fresh cards being distributed to customers, the name of the company running the RO plant, monthly charges, capacity of water, card number have gone missing.

Earlier, the CM’s photo has appeared on ration cards, bicycles distributed under Mai Bhago scheme, sports kit bags, PSEB class VIII textbook and Bhagat Puran Singh health insurance scheme cards.

Besides, the photos of CM and Deputy CM have also been displayed on RO water plant units across the state.

Parmod Chand, Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation, said, “I am unable to comment whether the photos can be displayed on the cards or not.” Surprisingly, he was even unaware about the RO water tariff for a month.

Courtesy: The Tribune

‘Technical fault’ renders new Rs2.54-cr pipeline inoperative in Gidderbaha

‘Technical fault’ renders new Rs2.54-cr pipeline inoperative

Project completed in 2013; leakage problems arose in trial phase itself

About the project

• The work of providing, laying and jointing of the 11,880-m underground pipeline for irrigational purposes at Lohara village in Gidderbaha was allotted in May 2011 for completion up to June 2011
• Later, due to the change of alignment of the project, the length of pipeline was increased from 11,880 m to 12,680 m, which increased the project cost fromRs 2.54 crore to Rs 2.69 crore
• The Comptroller and Auditor General has mentioned in the audit report that the pipeline could not be made operational due to a technical fault
• The Soil Conservation Officer, Gidderbaha, too reported last year that the pipeline was unfit for operation

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 7

The project of laying an 11,880-m underground pipeline for irrigational purposes at a cost of Rs 2.54 crore at Lohara village in Gidderbaha subdivision has proved out to be a mere wastage of money as it could not be made operational to date.

The project work started in 2011 and was complete in 2013. Thereafter, during its trial phase itself, the pipeline witnessed major leakage problems. The village panchayat even lodged a complaint to the Chief Minister, besides officials concerned in this regard.

Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has mentioned in the audit report that the pipeline could not be made operational due to a technical fault.

The Soil Conservation Officer, Gidderbaha, too reported in July last year that the pipeline had some technical fault and was unfit for operation.

Notably, the work of providing, laying and jointing of the pipeline was allotted in May 2011 for completion up to June 2011. Later, due to change of alignment of the project, the length of pipeline was increased from 11,880 m to 12,680 m, which increased the project cost from Rs 2.54 crore to Rs 2.69 crore.

Virpal Kaur, sarpanch, Lohara village, said, “The beneficiaries had contributed 10 per cent amount of the total cost. The amount was paid in cash by farmers without even getting a loan against it. However, the selection of plastic pipe by the department and contractor resulted wastage of about Rs 2.5 crore.”

However, as per the CAG report, Mangal Singh Sandhu, Director, Agriculture Department, attributed the non-commissioning of the project to the dispute between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers and stated that the laying of pipeline was complete but its successful commissioning was yet to be accomplished. But, this reply was not accepted by the CAG, as mentioned in the report.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Farmers get Rs 75 relief in Muktsar!

Farmer Sukhdev Singh shows his cheque of Rs 131.25 at Lundewala village in Gidderbaha on Friday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, June 5

Nine months after rain damaged farmers’ crop in the district, the state government awarded them cheques ranging from Rs 75 to Rs 168.

Farmers say the government has played a cruel joke on them with some refusing to accept the cheques. Some farmers at Lundewala village in Gidderbaha sub-division got cheques of Rs 75, Rs 93, Rs 131, Rs 150 and Rs 168 as compensation for the damage to cotton crop.

“The state government has rubbed salt into our wounds. I collected the cheque as evidence of the poor functioning of the administration,” said farmer Sukhdev Singh, who owns nearly 3.5 acres.

“My land got waterlogged, damaging my cotton crop last year. But I got a cheque of Rs 131.25 as compensation. I am not sure what to do with this amount,” he said.

On the other hand, a farmer of the same village, who owns six acres, has got a cheque of Rs 12,000. This has annoyed the farmers even more.

This village has been hit by waterlogging for quite a while. During the rains last year, farmers of the village suffered huge losses.

Last year’s rules state (before the revision of compensation amount) farmers, who suffered total damage to their crop, are to be given a compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre. Those who suffered 50 to 75 per cent damage would get Rs 3,600 per acre and those with 25 to 50 per cent damaged crop Rs 2,000 per acre. Farmers have also got meagre compensation for damage to houses. People have got Rs 47,000 for damage to houses.

The officials of the Agriculture Department, who disbursed the cheques, said those who had objections should meet the officials concerned. Mandeep Kaur, Sub-divisional Magistrate, Gidderbaha, said, “The officials concerned were told not to disburse cheques of below Rs 500. I will investigate the matter.”

In the past too, compensation cheques of little amount have been disbursed among the farmers.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Court: Book cops for false drug case against panchayat member

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 6

In a major embarrassment to the state police in its ongoing drive against drug peddlers, Special Court Judge Virinder Aggarwal has ordered the registration of a case against an ASI and two head constables for registering a false case against a panchayat member under the NDPS Act in June last year.

The court ordered the acquittal of Talwinder Singh ‘Mintu’, a Congress activist of Malout village, in the case. Mintu is lodged in a Faridkot jail.

Mintu’s counsel Vikas Setia said, “The police illegally detained Mintu from Amritsar on the intervening night of June 18-19 last year. In the records, he was shown arrested on June 25 last year, carrying around 1 kg intoxicants in his car from Killianwali in Lambi. The cell phone location and call records brought the truth out. A policeman, who had illegally detained him from Amritsar, used his mobile phone handset after inserting his own SIM card during this period. The records procured from the mobile service provider companies worked as evidence in the case.”

“The judge has acquitted Mintu and directed the city police station SHO to register a case under Sections 465 and 220 of the IPC against ASI Jaswinder Singh, two head constables Swaran Singh and Balraj Singh,” Setia said.

The judge, however, did not recommend any action against the police party that took Mintu in illegally custody from Amritsar as his mother had filed a criminal complaint in the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Malout, and the matter was sub judice.

Gurinderjit Singh, SHO, City Muktsar police station, said he was yet to receive the orders.

ASI Jaswinder Singh recently posted as the Sadar Malout police station SHO on this June 1. He said, “If the court has passed orders against me, the matter will be probed further and the truth will come out. However, I am yet to get a copy of the orders.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badals claimed Rs 3.61 crore from govt for treatment in 7 yrs: RTI

Amarinder made no claims

• Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, during his tenure from 2002 to 2007, did not claim a single medical bill from the taxpayers’ money

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 2

The state government has paid medical bills worth Rs 3,61,59,604 (Rs 3.61 crore) of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deceased wife Surinder Kaur Badal between 2007 to 2012 during his last term and 2012 to 2014 in his ongoing term, according to information procured under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

On the other hand, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, during his tenure from 2002 to 2007, did not claim a single medical bill from the taxpayers’ money.

Of the total Rs 3,61,59,604 paid by state government for the medical bills of the Badal couple, Rs 3,61,23,604 were spent on the treatment of Surinder, who was suffering from cancer and admitted to a hospital in New York. She passed away in 2011.

The documents revealed that Parkash Singh Badal himself claimed medical bills of just Rs 36,000 and that too in January 2012.

The rest of the bills were paid in 12 instalments in 2010 and 2011. The state government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 4.61 lakh as an advance for the treatment of Surinder Kaur Badal on April 9, 2010. Thereafter, Rs 10.18 lakh on May 19, 2010; Rs 15.1 lakh on June 11, 2010; Rs 60.54 lakh on July 8, 2010; Rs 35.03 lakh on December 3, 2010; Rs 13.4 lakh on December 13, 2010; Rs 85.54 lakh on December 21, 2010 were given to the CM.

A medical reimbursement bill of Rs 48.49 lakh was approved on January 14, 2011. Besides, Rs 5.01 lakh were granted for the medical tests in New York on February 7, 2011. Further, Rs 19.03 lakh were released on April 7, 2011, Rs 20.8 lakh on May 17, 2011 and the last instalment of Rs 43.45 lakh on December 29, 2011.

Notably, the Punjab CM is not alone in claiming medical bills from the taxpayers’ money. Some of his counterparts too have claimed such bills in the past.

Courtesy: The Tribune