Arrested Punjab minister Vijay Singla’s aides, 3 MLAs under scanner in corruption case
India Today
Vijay Singla was removed from the Punjab cabinet on charges of corruption on Tuesday. Soon after his removal, Singla was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
More skeletons are tumbling out of arrested Punjab Health Minister Vijay Singla's closet as his police remand nears completion. Investigations have revealed that Vijay Singla had expanded his Shukrana network (commission network) through five trusted aides.
Vijay Singla was removed from the state cabinet on charges of corruption on Tuesday. Soon after his removal, Singla was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. His arrest has opened a Pandora's box.
While one of the closest relatives Pradeep Bansal, who was working as one of the Officer on Special Duty, has already been arrested, the names of three others have also come to light during the investigation.
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Two Mansa residents, Vishal alias Lavi and Jogesh Kumar, were unofficially working as Singla's personal assistants. Vishal worked as a pesticide dealer and Jogesh Kumar owned a brick kiln. As per sources, both were handling the transfers of doctors and other employees.
The sources further say that the sacked minister had directed the officials not to clear any transfer order without his nod. The transfer seekers were allegedly asked to pay a month's salary to the minister.
Arrested OSD Pradeep Bansal, who is Vijay Singla's nephew, is basically a plyboard store owner in Bhatinda. He was given the responsibility of dealing with the officials, contractors, and suppliers. The alleged Rs 1.16 crore kickback demanded in lieu of Rs 58 crore tenders was also demanded through Pradeep.
