A total of twenty-six individuals have been booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), including Ajit Chief Editor Barjinder Singh Hamdard, and IAS officer Vinay Bublani for misusing the funds allocated for the construction of Jang-e-Azadi Memorial at Kartarpur, Jalandhar. So far, at least 15 have been arrested in the case while the authorities claim that Bublani and the others absconding will soon be arrested.
Meanwhile, the opposition criticised the AAP government, alleging that the action against Hamdard comes after he refused to do biased reporting for the state administration.
Bublani is the former chief executive officer of the memorial, and at present is DGSE - director general school education.
Following an investigation that revealed the misappropriation of funds released by the Punjab government for the construction of the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial, resulting in a loss of crores of rupees to the state exchequer, an FIR was registered under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station, Jalandhar range, on May 22.
A spokesperson of VB stated that the Punjab government had sanctioned Rs 315 crore for the completion of the project and allocated 25 acres of prime land by the national highway in Kartarpur, Jalandhar district.
According to the VB spokesperson, a review by various technical teams indicated that the state exchequer suffered a direct loss of over Rs 27.23 crore due to overpayments to contractors. Additionally, as the project remains incomplete or has been poorly constructed, the government is expected to incur further financial burdens.
Barjinder Singh's role -
"Barjinder Singh Hamdard was appointed as the president of the executive committee/management committee, and he along with Vinay Bublani supervised all the construction work of this project and did not empower other members of the foundation on the rules and bylaws and deed of declaration of the memorial", cited VB spokesperson on Hamdard'd involvement.
"Hamdard and Bublani, in violation of the said rules, also allotted the construction of Jang-e-Azadi works to their chosen contractor Deepak Builders/ Sham Benegal Films-without adopting the tender system", the spokesperson added.
Sunil Jakhar takes a dig at CM Bhagwant Mann -
BJP Punjab Chief Sunil Jakhar speaking on the case, called it a sham inquiry claiming that Hamdard denied biased reporting for the state government following which the AAP administration took this step.
Channi's stance -
Meanwhile, Charanjit Singh Channi, Congress leader, also slammed the Punjab government saying that the case has been driven by personal vendetta of the state administration towards Hamdard.
Writing in a post on X, Channi said, "I am the head of Ajit Publication Group. I strongly condemn the pamphlet filed by the Aam Aadmi Party government of Barjinder Singh Hamdard and Bhagwant Mann under personal grudge. This is an attack on the freedom of the press. Which cannot be tolerated. I will leave my election campaign and join the protest march in Jalandhar at 5.30 this evening and we will support Dr. Hamdard. I stand with Hamdard ji and Ajit Prakashan Group."
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