17 september 2024 : In connection with alleged fraud involving crores of rupees under the Bharatmala project, both the Vigilance Bureau and Punjab Police have filed separate FIRs against the accused in the same case. Inspector Iqbal Hussain, head of the Dharmkot police station, confirmed that charges of corruption have been added under sections of forgery in the FIR against the accused revenue officer (Patwari). He mentioned that a chargesheet against the accused Patwari would soon be submitted to the court. Additionally, he said that, since it’s the same case, discussions are ongoing to transfer the investigation to the Vigilance Bureau, as per the orders of senior officials.
The case involves the alleged illegal transfer of government land located in Adraman village under the Dharmkot Sub-Division, near the Sutlej River, to a migrant woman. The land, acquired under the Bharatmala project, was illegally transferred to the woman’s name, and a compensation of ₹1 crore was fraudulently claimed. Acting on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, the Dharmkot police registered an FIR on June 16 against Patwari Navdeep Singh, the migrant woman Dilkush Kumari, and Harminder Singh alias Gagan, an associate of the Patwari. The accused Patwari was arrested.
In the same case, following a detailed investigation, the local Vigilance Bureau registered another FIR against Patwari Navdeep Singh and other accused on August 12. Now, both Punjab Police and the Vigilance Bureau are conducting separate investigations into the same case, though, legally, a single agency should investigate a case and file one chargesheet in court. The Dharmkot police failed to submit a chargesheet against the accused within the legally mandated 90-day period. Since the accused is in the custody of Punjab Police, the Vigilance Bureau has been unable to question him.