Discrepancies in Moga agri officer appointment,CMO involved: Probe

Dr Gurdyal Singh,who led the probe,told The Indian Express: “On Monday,the report will be submitted to the financial commissioner (who had ordered the probe) and details will be out but as of now all I can confirm is that there are discrepancies from the side of chief agricultural officer. But we are studying further details.”

Several agriculture officers (AO) and agricultural development officers (ADO) on Thursday had levelled serious charges against Sandhu. Around 20 of them then submitted their complaint to financial commissioner,(development) Suresh Kumar,who forwarded it to the joint director Gurdyal Singh.

The agricultural staff also alleged that ever since Sandhu took over as the chief about seven months ago,he had been threatening to get them transferred as “he was close to the chief minister and the deputy chief minister.”

The AOs and ADOs accused Sandhu of ‘misusing’ farmer subsidies and forcing employees to sign on fake bills and subsidies issued in the name of his acquaintances. They also alleged that even when there were senior agricultural officers present in district,he was given the top post as he hailed from Lambi.

They also alleged that ‘subsidy cheques worth Rs 1.50 lakh for land levellers were issued in the name of Sandhu’s acquaintance’ and ‘Rs 1.35 lakh under NFSM meant for buying pesticides for farmers were given to a Moga firm but no pesticides have been bought for farmers.’

Sandhu,however,denied all the charges. “All allegations against me are baseless. The truth is that since I started opposing and scolding them for corruption they have come after me.”