PENSION GRANT BUNGLING: SAD SARPANCH AMONG 2 BOOKED

TARN TARAN: The local police booked a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sarpanch Hira Singh and a panchayat secretary Dilbag Singh of Chutala village in Khadoor Sahib sub- division on the charges of embezzling pension grants to the tune of ₹ 9.23 lakh, on Sunday.

On the villagers’ complaint, block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) Naushehra Pannuan, Sarabjit Singh, registered a case in the matter.

As per the information, the villagers had complained the BDPO about the embezzlements in the pensions from the last assembly elections.

After the intervention of the sitting Congress MLA Khadoor Sahib constituency, the BDPO Ramanjit Singh Sikki had started the inquiry, said the sources.

During the investigations, it was found that the sarpanch and the panchayat secretary were involved in embezzling the pension funds from the period of November 2016 to March 2017.

The block development and panchayat officer had submitted the inquiry report on August 7, this year.on the basis of the report, case was registered against the accused.

A case under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been registered against the accused at sadar police station, said assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sawinder Singh.