It’s raining rupees in Punjab scandal

IG, Vigilance Bureau, A.P. Pandey later told mediapersons that Rs 25 crore worth of cash and properties had been seized till date. He added: ‘‘We hope to meet the target of Rs 100 crore in recoveries of Sidhu’s wealth soon.’’

The rain of notes proved to be a major media event as officials of the Vigilance Bureau drilled holes to break into the lockers held in the names of Sidhu’s NRI brother Reetinder Paul Singh (three lockers), sister-in-law Ajinder Kaur, and mother Prithpal Kaur.

Jaskaran Singh, SP, Vigilance Bureau, and Investigating Officer in the Sidhu case, said the money stashed away in the lockers was suspected to be from candidates for the DSP examinations held last year.‘‘The dates on the cash bundles tally with the DSP examinations,’’ said Jaskaran.

No documents were recovered from the lockers, which had reportedly been taken last October on an introduction provided by Sidhu’s accomplice, Jagman Singh. Jagman is believed to have stashed the money in the lockers after receiving it from Sidhu or his tout, Markfed officer Randhir Singh Gill.

The Vigilance Bureau has also unearthed another alleged property of Sidhu’s, this time in Hyderabad. Vigilance sources claim the property documents had been found in the bag of documents seized from Jagman. The bag had been given along with Rs 1.41 crore in cash by Reetinder Paul to Jagman for safekeeping just after Pandey said though Jagman had made the introductions for the five lockers, nowhere in the bank records was it mentioned that Reetinder Paul and his wife Ajinder were NRIs.

‘‘Sidhu’s mother, Prithpal Kaur, will also be questioned by us as she has to explain where she got this money from,’’ said Pandey.

Asked whether the controversial recruitments made under Sidhu’s tenure would also be reviewed, Pandey gave a cryptic reply and said ‘‘all that is possible under the law will be done. A bribe-giver is as much in the wrong as the one who accepts it.’’

Earlier, Jaskaran told mediapersons that Sidhu had four main touts who would contact prospective candidates seeking to bribe their way into the PPSC.

All the four are absconding though arrest warrants have been secured for them.