VIGILANCE BUREAU UNEARTHS MORE THAN 4 CRORES SCAM IN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

Chandigarh September 5 : The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its campaign against corruption, has unearthed a multi-crore scam in Kajla Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited village Kajla, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district and registered a criminal case against seven persons for committing fraud in the said society. In this regard three accused have been arrested by the Bureau.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of Vigilance Bureau (VB) said during the investigation of this scam, it has come to light that the employees and elected representatives of this society have committed embezzlement of Rs. 4,24,02,561 in connivance with each other causing a huge loss to the society.

He further informed that on the basis of investigation it was found that secretary Prem Singh, secretary (under suspension) Bhupinder Singh, former president Jaswinder Singh, vice president Harvel Singh, Harjit Singh and Balkar Singh both former members (all residents of village Kajla) and former member Ram Pal of village Paddi Matwali have in connivance with each other committed a fraud to the tune of Rs 4,24,02,561 in the above said society.

The spokesperson said in this regard FIR No: 16 dated 05.09.2022 u/s 408, 420, 465, 467, 468, 477-A, 120-B-IPC and 13(1)A, 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the above said seven accused at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar. Three accused in this case namely Prem Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Harjit Singh have been arrested today.

Giving more details he informed that there are about 1220 account holders/members in Kajala Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society and it has 2 tractors besides agricultural machinery for cultivation of land. Apart from this, the said society also sells insecticides and pesticides to the members/farmers. A total of 2 employees are working in different places in the said society. Various members of this society have deposited FDRs worth crores of rupees in the society.

He added that during the checking of the records by the technical team from year 2012-13 to the year 2017-18, the loans taken by the members of the society and deposits of the members amounted to Rs. 4,24,02,561 were found to be embezzled

He informed that the role of other officials/employees involved in this scam would also be probed during the investigation of the case and further investigation of this case was under progress.