Punjab suspends 8 panchayat secretaries over Rs 18-crore ‘embezzlement’ by AAP leader Ranjit Singh Cheema’s brother

In July, Rahul Sindhu, Deputy Commissioner, Tarn Taran, recommended “strong action” against 10 panchayat secretaries for failing to provide records required to investigate the alleged embezzlement.

The Indian Express reported in September 2024 that Baljeet Singh, brother of AAP leader Ranjit Singh Cheema, was accused of siphoning off funds through Cowberry AGROVET OPC Private Limited, which was engaged in the cattle feed and water coolers businesses. He was enlisted as a contractor with the water resources department in 2023 after his brother became chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation.

The investigation was started on a complaint filed by RTI activist Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, alleging that funds were released for projects in villages under the Khadoor Sahib constituency, but the work was either incomplete or never started.

However, the investigation couldn’t progress as the panchayat secretaries declined to provide records pertaining to alleged irregularities in projects worth over Rs 85 lakh executed between June and August 2024.

The deputy commissioner’s letter had named several panchayat secretaries, stating that they did not submit the required documents, thereby hindering the investigation.

Payara Singh, District Development and Panchayat Officer, said, “They have been suspended because they didn’t provide the records needed for the investigation. Now, further inquiry will be conducted on where the records are.”