Punjab Lokpal summons AAP MLA over graft complaint, she says ‘open for any inquiry’
Moga legislator's ex-PA accuses her of buying benami properties, extortion, and encroaching upon govt land
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AAP MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora has been summoned by Punjab Lokpal. (Photo: Facebook)The Punjab Lokpal has summoned AAP MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora and three of her family members on the complaint of her former personal assistant (PA) Harsh Aren who has alleged that the legislator was involved in ‘buying benami properties, extorting money from a revenue official,and encroaching government land’ among others.
Amandeep, however, said she was yet to receive the summons. “I am open for any inquiry. Harsh Aren was just a party supporter. He also deals in properties and was misusing the name of AAP for his business. After we got to know, we had issued him a warning. He was never my PA,” said Arora.
Issuing showcause notices to the Moga MLA, her husband Dr Rakesh Arora, father Jaspal Singh, brother Baljinder Singh and tehsilar (revenue official) Lakhwinder Singh, the court of Lokpal Justice Vinod Sharma has summoned them on February 16 to explain “as to why proceedings under the provisions of the Punjab Lokpal Act be not initiated on the allegations levelled” against them.
“The complainant…alleged that she is indulging in corrupt practises and has also encroached upon the land of Punjab government. As an instance, the complainant claims that the accused persons have blackmailed Navdeep Singh, patwari of Dharamkot, who was guilty of fraud, to extort Rs 25 lakh from him. The allegation of purchase of benami properties by the accused persons is also alleged. The allegations prima facie make out corrupt practises by a duly elected Member of Legislature, which may call for investigation under as per the provisions of the Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996,” read the notice issued by the Lokpal.
In his compliant, Harsh Aren, a resident of Anand Nagar, Moga, claimed that he supported and helped Amandeep during Punjab Assembly elections in 2022 as he was “impressed by the policies of AAP.” Later, he claimed, that he started working as her personal assistant (PA). In the complaint, filed under Section 11 of the Punjab Lokpal Act, Aren has alleged that the MLA “in connivance with her family have purchased number of properties in their names or in the names of their relatives/friends by indulging in corrupt practices or by threatening the public including the complainant which is proved from the telephone recording.”
The complainant further alleged that the MLA “got prepared one agreement dated 4.11.2022 to grab the property of Punjab government in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market, Moga, and got signatures of the complainant on it as a witness… to sell it in favour of Jaspal Singh.”
Aren further alleged in his complaint that “MLA and her husband had blackmailed Navdeep Singh (patwari) of Dharamkot and grabbed Rs 25 lakh from him who had without enquiring transferred the property of Punjab government on NH 754A Green Field Express Highway…”
It further adds that “respondents have purchased number of benami properties and one of them is adjoining the hospital of Dr Simant Garg on Railway Road, Moga. They have also taken benami partnership in the drug de-addiction center at Baghapurana and Jagraon…”
Aren alleged that he also “got a WhatsApp call on on 20.12.2023” from the MLA, who “threatened the complainant and the recording of the said conversation has been submitted”.
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