*Amritsar-Kolkata Corridor project: VB arrests Sri Muktsar Sahib ADC (D) Surinder Dhillon in land compensation scam*

Chandigarh, October 26: Amidst its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested Surinder Dhillon, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) of Sri Muktsar Sahib, on Saturday. Authorities accuse him of embezzling funds from grants intended for compensation related to land acquired for the Amritsar-Kolkata Corridor Project in Patiala district.

An official spokesperson of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) disclosed here today that FIR No. 12, dated 26.05.2022, named Surinder Dhillon, who was serving as the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) at the time.He faces charges under sections 406, 420, 409, 465, 467 and 120-B of IPC, as well as section 13(1)(A) read with section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended by the PC (Amendment) Act, 2018.

These charges pertain to embezzlement and failure to perform his duties regarding a grant of Rs 285 crores released for compensation related to 1,103 acres of land acquired for the Amritsar-Kolkata Corridor project, specifically in the villages of Akkri, Sehra, Sehri, Takhtumajra and Pabra in the Shambhu Block of Patiala district.

During the investigation, the VB found that the responsible parties should have deposited 30% of the allocated funds into the BDPO Office Secretary’s wage account but failed to do so properly.

The rules also required them to use only 10% of the remaining funds for developing the five villages. However, the accused overspent significantly, recording expenses of around Rs. 65 crores on paper for development projects. Some of these projects existed only on papers and the actual work completed did not meet the required technical specifications, he added.

Authorities also arrested some Sarpanches and Panchayat Members from these villages during the investigation of this case. Additionally, they named and arrested former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, his son, and their associates as part of the inquiry.

The spokesperson said that a team from the VB Patiala Range arrested the accused, Surinder Dhillon, today in Sri Muktsar Sahib and the further investigation is currently ongoing in this case.