Vigilance Bureau assesses properties of former Congress minister Vijay Inder Singla in Patiala

Singla, who had won the Sangrur Assembly seat in 2017 only to lose it in 2022, held the education and public works department (PWD) portfolios during his tenure in the Congress government from 2017 to 2022.

According to sources, in September last year, a few of Singla’s close associates had been questioned by the VB over tender allotment works in the PWD when he was the minister. During Singla’s tenure as PWD minister, several allegations had been raised over inferior works carried out by the department and the issue was also raised during the elections.

The inquiry into the disproportionate assets case against Singla also began a few months ago, sources added. Officials have reportedly been inspecting revenue records for details of properties linked to Singla, his family members and close aides. However, details of this probe have not been made public yet.

Singla is not the only minister to be questioned in relation to the disproportionate assets case. Former Congress ministers Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Sunder Sham Arora and Balbir Singh Sidhu have also been questioned in the same case.

Considered a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi, Singla won the Sangrur Lok Sabha polls in 2009 defeating Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Though he was instrumental in getting several projects to Sangrur, he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Following his loss in the 2022 elections, Singla has not been politically active.