Chandigarh, May 23, 2013: The computerisation of entire treasury offices in Punjab ensuring all Government Payments online proved a grand success with  Punjab becoming first successful state in the country to disburse more than Rs. 3218 crore to more than 7 lakh beneficiaries in one month by online system. 

Disclosing this here today, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister, Punjab said that crediting online payments was successfully running in the whole state. He said that through this recently implemented system of online payments to various departments, authorities besides salaries of government officials/employees, Punjab has credited more than Rs. 3218 crore in a short span of one and half month. He said that Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) has been monitoring the system of online payments from its inception on 1st April, 2013 and Punjab has become the country's first state to start this programme. He said that all government payments from 1st April, 2013 were being deposited directly in the bank accounts of concerned departments and authorities. He said more than 7 lakh people were directly benefitted with this scheme.

The Finance Minister further said that E-Payment system was implemented in all Government Offices/Departments, whose transactions were done through treasury offices. He added that Punjab government's next mission is to set up Cyber Treasuries.

He said that 21 Treasury Offices in the state has implemented the E-payment system while besides these offices all 74 sub treasuries were running this system in the state.

Jalandhar, May 24, 2013: Exercise ‘Panchjanya’ (conch shell of Vishnu, which heralded the commencement of epic battle Mahabharata), a first ever integrated exercise at theatre level was held in the plains of Punjab in Doaba region.

More than 15,000 troops and integrated combat elements of Vajra Corps participated in the exercise under the aegis of HQ Western Command.

Exercise ‘Panchjanya’ was conceptualised by the Army’s Western Command, on rapid mobilisation and speedy multiple offensives, deep into enemy territory in the plains of Punjab. In a first, all three Corps of the Western Command are exercising together in an integrated manner. The exercise is focusing on new and efficient ways of war fighting in a synergised battle field.

As part of the overall Western Command Exercise, troops of the elite Vajra Corps have been practicing their battle drills and procedures, unmindful of the scorching summer heat wave prevailing in Northern India.

The exercise involved participation of large array of all arms, combat and support elements including artillery guns, rockets, missiles, armoured tanks and helicopters.

Special emphasis has been paid to the functional integration of the Army with the Indian Air Force in a network enabled environment. As one senior officer put it, “the integration has been seamless”, with the Air Force deploying their fighter and bomber aircrafts, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Attack Helicopters in support of the operational plans of their Army counterparts.

Stretched over a period of 15 days, the exercise has been progressively structured, so that the participating units and formations are put through their paces in a simulated, realistic battlefield environment. All elements of Command and Combat Decision Making were activated during the exercise and participated in networked environment including video conferencing upto theatre level

The exercise was witnessed by the Army Commander and Vajra Corps Commander, along with other senior military commanders on 23 - 24 May 13. The Army Commander has expressed his satisfaction over the proficiency levels achieved during the exercise and commended the troops for their professional conduct under trying weather conditions during the course of the exercise.

The presence of such a large number of troops in the general area has been well received by the local population in the area. The sight of a plethora of state of the art weaponry and military equipment has reenergized the patriotic fervor among the people, who can be seen saluting & waving out to the passing military vehicles along the roads.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 25, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Branch Manager (Scale-III) of Allahabad Bank for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000 from the complainant.

According to an official release issued by CBI on Friday, a case was registered by CBI  on May 23,2013 by  on a complaint U/s 7 of P. C. Act, 1988 against the Branch Manager (Scale III), Allahabad Bank, Karanjkheda Branch, District Aurangabad (Maharashtra) for demanding bribe of Rs. 25,000 from the complainant as a reward for sanctioning him loan of Rs. 5 lakhs.

Later on, the accused agreed to accept part payment.  Thereafter, a trap was laid  by the CBI sleuths and the Branch Manager  was caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000.

Search at his residence at Aurangabad and Ullahasnagar is in progress. 

The arrested accused will be produced before the Special Judge, Aurangabad tomorrow.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 24, 2013: The special Judge for CBI Cases, Bangalore has convicted  A. Vanangamudi, a former Superintendent of Service Tax, Service Tax Commissionerate, Bangalore to undergo two years Simple Imprisonment with fine Rs.20,000 in a bribery case.

This was stated by the spokesperson of the CBI on Friday. He said  the investigation revealed that  A. Vanangamudi, Superintendent of Service Tax  was caught red handed while demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs.25,000 from the Complainant for not imposing heavy service tax liability on his firm and closing the case file.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet after completion of investigation against   A. Vanangamudi, Superintendent of Service Tax, U/s  7 and Sec. 13(1) (d) r/w 13(2) of PC Act, 1988.

He said that in an another case, the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Bangalore has convicted. D. Shashireka, then Income Tax Inspector, working in the office of Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bangalore and sentenced her to undergo two years Simple Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000 in a bribery case.

In this matter the investigation revealed that D. Shashireka, Income Tax Inspector was caught red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000 from the Complainant for processing the file for a lower rate of TDS deduction U/s 197 of Income Tax Act.

CBI had filed chargesheet against D. Shashireka, Income Tax Inspector U/s 7 and Section 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) of PC Act, 1988.

The Trial Court found both the accused guilty and convicted them.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 26, 2013:  Udit Chandra, the eldest son of Pradeep Kumar, 1972 Batch Senior IAS Officer of Haryana cadre and presently Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), expired on May 24 in New Delhi. 

A prayer meeting is scheduled to be held from 3 pm to 4 pm on May 27 at Mata Ka Mandir, New Friends Colony, New Delhi.

Kurukshtera (Haryana) / Jalandhar, May 26, 2103: Haryana Chief Minister  Bhupinder Singh Hooda has strongly condemned the tragic incident of ambush of a convoy of Congress leaders in forest area of Chhattisgarh in which  a senior Congress leader was killed and many others including former Union Minister  V. C. Shukla were injured.

The Chief Minister who was in Kurukshetra today to preside over a public meeting, observed a two minute silence alongwith the audience and the function was turned into a condolence meeting.

The Chief Minister said that Congress has a history of sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country. He also conveyed his deepest sympathies with the families of those who have lost their lives.

Hooda also wished  speedy recovery to those who have been injured in the dastardly attack.

The Chief Minister also postponed his programmes that were scheduled for the day.

Others present on the occasion included Member Parliament,  Naveen Jindal, HPCC President  Phool Chand Mulana, Rajya Sabha MP  Ram Parkash, Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sultan Singh Jadaula, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Virender Singh, Former Minister and MLA Savitri Jindal, Chairman Haryana Bureau of Public Enterprises Anil Dhantori, Chairman Haryana Mati Kala Board Bhupender Gangwa, Former Minister Parsanni Devi, Former MP Kailasho Saini, Former MLAs Krishna Pandit, Ramesh Gupta, Tinjender Pal Maan and other Congress party leaders and workers and officers of district administration.

Chandigarh, May 26, 2013: The Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka today turned the political tables on the opposition Congress party, offering to face any inquiry by a credible independent third agency into allegations of irregularities in  purchase of school books. 

Maluka asked the PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa to demand similar probe into scams of the UPA Government in Delhi.

Addressing media persons at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon, he said< “I am ready to face any inquiry by any agency to be decided  by the chief minister. I do not want an eye wash in the form of an internal inquiry.  I am going to meet Parkash Singh Badal right away to order a comprehensive probe into every allegation and punish anyone including me guilty."

Maluka said that some irregularities in book purchase process were brought to his notice even before these appeared in newspapers  "I immediately ordered a thorough probe to cover all irregularities . We stopped the purchase and distribution of books immediately. All this was before the media dragged my own name into it," said Maluka.

But the Minister said that he wished to uphold the highest standards of probity in public life. "Now that my own name figures in the controversy, I do not want to the inquiry to be conducted by anyone subordinate to me in the department. I am the boss here, and the buck stops with me. Therefore, I have decided to approach the Chief Minister and request him to get the entire issue, including my role,  probed by someone who is independent of me. The Chief Minster and the Deputy Chief Minster have themselves set high standards for accountability in integrity and honesty in public life. I do not wish to do anything that lowers the bar."

New Delhi / Jalandhar,May 27, 2013: Haryana Chief Minister,  Bhupinder Singh Hooda today paid floral tributes at the picture of  Udit Chandra in the prayer meeting held in New Delhi.  

Udit Chandra expired on 24 of this month. 

He was 33 and was not keeping good health for some time.  

Udit Chandra was the eldest son of  Pradeep Kumar, senior IAS officer of Haryana cadre of 1972 batch. Presently, Pradeep Kumar is Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), Govt. of India.

V. Narayanasami, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office also had paid rich tributes to the departed soul. Besides the family members of Pradeep Kumar and friends of Udit Chandra, a number of senior officers of Central Government and Haryana Government were present on this occasion.

Principal Secretary to Haryana CM,  Chhatar Singh and Additional Principal Secretary Dr K.K. Khandelwal, Additional Chief Secretaries of Haryana  Ajit Mohan Sharan and  K.K. Jalan, Secretary in Govt. of India  Sanjay Kothari, Additional Secretary  Ashok Lavasa, Joint Secretaries  Dalip Singh, and  Rajiv Arora, CVC (DDA)  S.K. Gulati, former Chief Election Commissioner, S.Y. Quraishi, former IAS officers of Haryana cadre S.K. Mishra,  Vishnu Bhagwan, and  Dhanendra Kumar and Principal Resident  Commissioner P.K. Mahapatra were among those who paid rich tributes to the departed soul.

Devotional songs were presented in the prayer meeting and homage was paid to the departed soul by keeping one minute silence.

Haryana Chief Minister,  Bhupinder Singh Hooda consoling  Pradeep Kumar (CVC), father of Udit Chandra on the occasion of the prayer meeting held in New Delhi on Monday.

Jalandhar, May 27, 2013: The sleuths of Central Bureau of Investigation have arrested a Deputy Director, Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Bapunagar, Ahmedabad for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 8,000 from a complainant.

This was disclosed by the spokesperson of the CBI  today. He said a case was registered by CBI, after receipt of the complaint against the  Deputy Director, ESIC, Bapunagar, Ahmedabad alleging therein that the said Deputy Director demanded illegal gratification of Rs.8,000  from the complainant, in order to clear the pending bills for supply of medicines amounting to Rs.5,02,215. The complainant was awarded contract for supply of medicines to the ESIC Model Hospital, Bapunagar, Ahmedabad which expired on February 28, 2013.

A trap was laid by the CBI sleuths and the Dy. Director was caught red handed by the team, while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs.8,000 from the complainant.

Searches at the office and residential premises of accused at Jaipur and Ahmedabad were conducted.

The arrested accused was produced before the Special Judge for CBI cases, Ahmedabad and was remanded CBI custody upto May 28, 2013.

Jalandhar, May 27, 2013: Haryana Chief Minister,  Bhupinder Singh Hooda will be participating in the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee (UYRC) in the Committee Room of the Ministry of Labour, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi on May 28at 11.30 am.

Seechewal (Jalandhar), May 27, 2013: To put the state’s agricultural economy on zenith especially in the wake of present slow down due to conventional wheat paddy cycle, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the peasantry to come out of this rut to adopt crop diversification in a big way. 

Addressing a mammoth gathering here at the 25th death anniversary of Sant Baba Avtar Singh here today, the Chief Minister said that  State’s ambitious crop diversification program was aimed at supplementing the income of farmers especially the small and marginal ones besides checking the alarmingly depleting ground water due its ‘over exploitation’.

The Chief Minister pointed out that agriculture which once happened to be a prosperous preposition till a few years back was now on decline due to marginal profits which were further squeezing every passing day. He bemoaned that the resilient farmers of the state through their toil of ‘blood and sweat’ had made the country self reliant in food production, but were now finding it extremely difficult to meet their both ends.  He said that with the Union government extending a slew of incentives to non paddy growing states, the message was loud and clear to the farmers of the state that either they should resort to crop diversification to ensure their existence or perish.  Mr. Badal categorically asked the farmers to refrain from growing paddy and shift to alternative crops like Basmati, Maize, Sugarcane, vegetables and fruits, the cultivation of which was not only highly profitable but was also less water intensive than paddy.

Assuring fulsome support and co-operation to the farmers for this noble cause, the Chief Minister said that all out efforts were being made by the state government to bail out the beleaguered peasantry of the state from the ongoing crisis through crop diversification.  He said that the state government has already urged the Government of India (GoI) to evolve a fool proof marketing mechanism for the promotion of Maize cultivation by announcing Minimum Support Price (MSP) on it like Wheat and Paddy. It was a high time that in larger interest of the state the farmers must opt for crop diversification for which the state government would extend all possible help to them, added Badal.

The Chief Minister further said that with the aim to increase 25% water supply in the rivers and minors by preventing its wastage through leakage or seepage, the state government has embarked a major program of strengthening the canals and minors in Punjab. He said that in the coming two years the entire canal water irrigation system of the state would be completely transformed so as to save the ground water by reducing pressure on the Tube wells. Mr. Badal hoped that this endeavor of the state government would also help in checking the depleting ground water level in Punjab

Paying rich tributes to Sant Baba Avtar Singh, the Chief Minister termed him as a great spiritual leader who had played a laudable role in religious and social service. He said that the life of Sant Baba Avtar Singh and his service of the humanity would ever act as a lighthouse for the coming generations.

Appreciating the efforts being made by eminent environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in checking land, water and air pollution Badal said that this was a great service to the humanity, which could not be described in words. He also showered praise on Baba Seechewal for his commendable work of cleaning the holy ‘Kali Bein’.

Earlier talking to the media persons the Chief Minister, replying to a query regarding the alleged scam in Education department, said that he had already asked the officers of the Education department to submit the entire case pertaining to the alleged irregularities in the Sarv Sikhya Aabhyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhamik Sikhya Abhyaan (RMSA) adding that any decision regarding the Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka would be taken after the scrutiny of the official record meticulously with due care and deliberation. 

Replying to another query the Chief Minister reiterated that the failure of the Union Government in checking the drug trafficking across the border was grossly responsible for the menace of drugs in the state. He said that the security agencies manning the borders were deployed by the Centre and the state had hardly any role in it.  “Therefore, the entire onus lies with GoI and it could not run away from its onerous responsibility of guarding the border with diligence thereby insulating these barriers to check the menace of drug trafficking” said Badal.

However Badal said that on their part the state government had recently concluded a dedicated fund to combat the grave problem of the Cancer and drug de-addiction adding that no stone would be left unturned for curbing them.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, former MLA and Chairman of District Planning Committee Kapurthala Sarabjit Singh Makkar, Commissioner Jalandhar Division SR Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh and Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sandeep Hans.   

Punjab CM, Parkash Singh Badal addressing the gathering.

Justice (retd.) A.N. Jindal to probe into matter
Chandigarh, May 27, 2013: Taking cognizance of the news reports in a section of Press regarding alleged irregularities in the School Education Department, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered an independent enquiry to be conducted by the retired Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice A.N. Jindal to get into the bottom of the case.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that Badal had ordered this enquiry to Justice Jindal to probe into all alleged aspects particularly relating to the purchase of school library books for primary and upper primary, science kits and supply of map masters.
It may be recalled that the Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka had himself offered for an independent enquiry to be ordered by the Chief Minister during a press conference here on Sunday last.
 

Jalandhar, May 28, 2013: The Special Judge, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, has convicted G.C. Jain, then Officer (Junior Management Grade Scale), State Bank of India and two private persons, Rakesh Kumar and Pramod Kumar in a cheating and forgery case. G.C. Jain was sentenced to undergo five years Rigorous Imprisonment with total fine of Rs. 2.70 lakh and  Rakesh Kumar and Pramod Kumar were sentenced to undergo four years RI with fine of Rs. 60,000 each.

Present case  was registered, by the CBI on September 28, 1990 on the complaint of State Bank of India, Head Office, Sansad Marg, New Delhi against  G.C. Jain, Officer, JMGS, SBI and five private person alleging therein that  G.C. Jain in conspiracy, defrauded SBI to the tune of about Rs.12,33,162 by substituting genuine pay-in-slips submitted by Bank customers for crediting cheques / drafts and other bank instruments with forged ones in favour of accounts opened in the name of his relatives on his introductions.

After investigation by the CBI sleuths, a chargesheet was filed in the court of Special Judge, New Delhi against G.C. Jain, Rakesh Kumar and Pramod Kumar on December 22, 1992.

The Trial Court found three accused guilty and convicted them.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 28, 2013; Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that Haryana is supplying more water to Delhi than its legitimate share as per 1994 MoU.

Speaking at the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee in New Delhi today,  Hooda said that the Carrier Lined Channel has been completed by Haryana. However, Delhi must plug the unauthorised cut, so that Carrier Lined Channel may become operational.

The meeting was presided over by the Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat and was attended by Delhi Chief Minister  Sheila Dixit, Haryana Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, Rajasthan Water Resources Minister  Hema Ram Choudhary, UP Irrigation Minister  Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, Himachal Pradesh Power Minister,  Sujan Singh Pathania, besides senior officers from the Union Water Resources Ministry and the States.

Hooda complimented  Rawat for launching the new National Water Policy and expressed hope that the construction of upstream dams on Yamuna river at Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau would now be fast-tracked. On the situation of water availability in Haryana,  Hooda said that the State has only 14 MAF of water as compared to the requirement of 36 MAF.  Haryana is getting much less water from Yamuna at Tajewala than the water supply to Delhi despite the fact that during the lean period Delhi’s  share is much less as compared to Haryana’s share. There is also decline in the contribution of water from Sahibi, Krishnavati and Dohan rivers, tributaries of Yamuna, because of the construction of check dams by Rajasthan in the catchment areas of these rivers. This has resulted in acute problem of water in southern Haryana.

Haryana Chief Minister said that Haryana has always been liberal in helping Delhi in respect of drinking water. Recently, there was a breach in the Upper Ganga Canal, which feeds Sonia Vihar Treatment Plant.  Haryana immediately diverted water to Delhi from its own share without waiting for formal procedure. On the issue of 80 MGD of water being claimed by Delhi,  Hooda said that it is actually a non-issue and Haryana does not support the decision to set up a GoM on this issue. He urged the Upper Yamuna Review Committee to attend to all the water related issues of Yamuna basin States. 

Hooda supported the proposal of  Rawat regarding expediting the construction of storage projects at Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi. On the issue of water problems with UP and Rajasthan  Hooda said that these will be sorted out in meetings with these States.

Rawat emphasised in the meeting that instructions of the Supreme Court must be followed and commitments must be fulfilled in a time bound manner. He asked Delhi to keep UP and Haryana informed about the position of treatment polluted Yamuna water.

Union Water Resources Minister,   Harish Rawat with Haryana Chief  Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Haryana Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, UP Irrigation Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav at the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Ludhiana, May 28, 2013: District Council of Ludhiana of Communist Party of India deeply condole the death of noted and veteran freedom fighter, patriot and communist leader Comrade Jagjeet Singh Lyalpuri.

He breathed his last at his residence on intervening night of May 27 and 28. Now he was of 96 years and was not feeling well from some days.

He was living with his son Dr. Navdeep Singh Khehra who himself is a renowned doctor of Punjab. 

Dr. Khehra told to senior comrades of CPI D P Mour, Ramesh Rattan and Mewa Singh Raikot that both of his brothers are in UK in these days so the last rites would be performed upon their arrival, expected by Saturday.

Comrade Jagjeet Singh joined the freedom movement of India under Communist Party of India from his student days and become a full time communist after completing his law graduation  in 1936. He worked as a president of All India Kisan Sabha and for a long period he was a member in national executive committee of CPI.  He led Khus-hasiat Morcha and he was sent to jail while fighting for the causes of toiling pageantry.

He also travelled to many countries and represent communist party of India in many conferences in various countries.

Chandigarh, May 28, 2013: The Punjab Cabinet in its meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal cleared the appointment of the daughter of late Sarabjit Singh, Swapandeep Kaur as Naib Tehsildar and Manjit Kaur w/o late Surjit Singh, resident of village Daultpur Neewan, District Moga in Group ‘D’ category at Deputy Commissioner Office, Moga on compassionate grounds.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister office said while Swapandeep Kaur’s father Sarabjit Singh had succumbed to a deadly attack in Pakistan jail and subsequently the state government had declared him national martyr whereas in another case all the 11 family members of Manjit Kaur had died in a fatal road accident near Moga on May 6, 2012.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had announced to offer government job to Swapandeep Kaur at the Bhog of Sarabjit Singh while he had promised to give a government job to Manjeet Kaur during a Sangat Darshan program.     

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 29, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet against a former Minister of Karnataka; former Dy. Conservator of Forests, Bellary; then Deputy Director of Mines & Geology Department, Hospet; the then PA of former Minister of Karnataka; the then Conservator of Forests, Bellary and two private persons u/s.120-B r/w 409, 420, 434, 447, 468, 471 of IPC and Sec.13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) & (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988.
According to the allegations as per the charge sheet, are that the said accused persons were parties to a criminal conspiracy entered among themselves at Bellary and other places during 2009-2010 to commit various offences. In pursuant to such conspiracy, the accused persons excavated iron ore illegally from various mines / forest areas in Bellary district and surrounding areas & sold the same to various traders and transported the said illegally excavated iron ore to Belekeri port for export purpose. A loss of about Rs.198 crores was caused to the State exchequer.

In pursuance of the directions given by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in WP(Civil) No.562/2009 dated September 7, 2012, CBI had registered the case against a private firm; the then Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bellary; the then Deputy Director of Mines & Geology Department Hospet and others.
 
All the accused persons against whom the charge sheet  filed are in judicial custody.
 
Further investigation into the role of other accused persons is continuing.
In an email press release received here today by the spokesperson of the CBI, the public is reminded that the above findings are based on the investigation done by CBI and evidence collected by it. Under the Indian Law, the accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 29, 2013: According to the spokesperson of the CBI, the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a Charge sheet against, the former Inspector General of Police, West Zone, Coimbatore(Tamilnadu); then Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tirupur Town, Tirupur; Inspector of Police, CCB, Tirupur and two private persons U/s 120-B r/w 347, 384,  506(i), 507 IPC and Sec. 8, 10, 13 (2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI cases at Coimbatore.

The CBI sleuths took up the investigation of a case against a DSP and two Inspectors of Police on 15.06.2011 on the directions of Hon’ble High Court of Madras on the allegations that the accused had entered into criminal conspiracy, demanding Rs.10 Crores from 3 accused in a cheating case being investigated by Central Crime Branch (CCB), Tirupur and extorted money to the tune of Rs.3.10 Crore  by criminally intimidating and wrongfully confining certain individuals. 

The searches conducted by the CBI sleuths, in the houses of the involved officers and that of  Inspector General of Police and two private individuals in the course of investigation.

After the Investigation, it revealed that the said officers had allegedly abused their official position, criminally intimidated and extorted money from the Directors of Private Companies against whom there was a case of cheating depositors to the tune of about Rs. 870.10 crores.

Not only this but the  Investigation to locate the crime proceeds is continuing.

The public is reminded that the above findings are based on the investigation done by CBI and evidence collected by it. Under the Indian Law, the accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial, said the release.

Chandigarh, May 29, 2013: “Every Punjabi is worried about the drug menace and is trying its best to overcome this menace.  To plug the smuggling of drugs, its sale and drug addiction in the State of Punjab, the State has already vigorously registered cases under N.D.P.S. Act.  The population of teenagers is the worst affected lot due to inflow of contra-bands.”

These facts have quoted by Virsa Singh Valtoha, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, in a letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India.

Urging the PM to play a pro active role in saving the food basket as well as custodian of India’s frontier ‘Punjab’ from the menace of drug being smuggled from its border adjoining with Pakistan, Valtoha said that the State of Punjab has played a leading role in the progress of nation in every field.  More than 80% of the people belonging to State of Punjab have sacrificed their lives for our country.  Even in the two wars of 1965 and 1971, the Punjabis have fought bravely with Pakistani forces.  With their hard work, The Punjabis have produced surplus food grains for the country which account for more than 50% of the total production in the country.  The neighboring enemy countries have always tried to weaken our country internally by trafficking the drugs into the Punjab. It has always been their policy to dislodge India first. Because of nefarious designs of Pakistan, Punjab has been worst affected in the grip of drugs.

MLA from Khemkaran constituency adjoining to the international border with Pakistan, Valtoha also wrote that, As per the latest survey of the total quantity of the drugs pedalled into the country, 70% comes through the borders of Punjab, whereas rest of the 30% sneaks through other borders touching Pakistan.

He apprised the Prime Minister that not only he himself but also the people of his constituency are aware of the activities, how the drugs are being smuggled into India with the help of bad elements active in the Govt. Agencies. Despite BSF being stationed over there, lying of barbed wire, having flood lights, the Pakistan smugglers are easily placing the drugs bags on our side, which fact is not accepted by anybody.  The stage has come that the people living at Border have started thinking that not only Pakistan is trying to weaken our State of Punjab but the bad elements in the Government agencies have also adopted this attitude which is a very bad sign for the entire country.

He said that BSF officers have also admitted that 70% drugs are being smuggled through Punjab borders out of which near-by 50% is passing through Khalra-Khemkaran Sector (of my Constituency). BSF personnel know all these things but are they taking any necessary steps to control all this menace?    Now the question that arises is whether they have increased their strength, put on night visions, fog visions or other latest hi-tech instruments/gadgets stationed/installed on this entire border-route?  Whether any CCTV cameras are being placed on this entire route?  The answer to all these questions is big “No” and that is why the people of my constituency are now convinced that Indian Government and BSF never wanted that this drug menace to be controlled effectively. The people of Punjab as well as people belonging to my constituency are totally convinced and are 100 per cent sure that the bad elements  i.e. from lower level up to a higher level, working within the government agencies as well as  within the BSF personnel are making a lot of money from this drug smuggling.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary made a vociferous appeal to the Prime Minister to save Punjab and India from this drug menace by taking very stern and effective action and the government agencies as well as BSF personnel should be made accountable for their total failure in controlling this drug menace