Chandigarh, June 28: Punjab Police has given a clean chit to former Health Minister Dr. Vijay Singla and his OSD Pradeep Kumar, arrested in a corruption case. Let us tell you that this case was registered at the Phase-8 police station in Mohali in 2022 after a complaint of demanding 1% commission for the allocation of government contracts.
Mohali police will soon submit the closure report in the court. The police investigation has not found any concrete evidence to take action against the accused. According to police sources, complainant Rajinder Singh has also agreed with the closure report in his statement given in the court. The Mohali court will give its verdict on the closure report on July 14.
Police said- OSD Pradeep’s role is under investigation
However, police officials have confirmed that the investigation into Pradeep Kumar’s role is still going on. However, a chargesheet has already been filed against him. The complaint filed by Rajinder Singh, a government engineer working on deputation in the Punjab Health System Corporation, alleged that in May 2022, he was called to Punjab Bhawan, where he met the then Health Minister Vijay Singla and his OSD Pradeep Kumar.
According to the complaint, Pradeep had demanded 2% commission (approximately Rs 1.16 crore) on work contracts worth Rs 58 crore, which included Rs 17 crore already paid to contractors.
What was the matter?
Three years ago, on May 24, 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s then health minister and Mansa MLA Dr Vijay Singla was arrested for allegedly demanding a commission for the tenders cleared by his department. At the time, CM Mann had come live on social media to announce Singla’s arrest and claimed that he had himself handed over the minister to the vigilance bureau. The minister’s OSD, Pardeep Kumar, was also arrested as it was alleged that Singla had asked for the bribe through him. It was alleged that Singla had sought 2% commission against the ₹58 crore tender, which came to ₹1.16 crore, but the complainant, an officer, had refused to pay.