Probe on against ex-minister

On the directions of the Punjab chief minister’s office, an inquiry has been initiated against former cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah. The CM’s office marked the inquiry after Hindustan Times (‘College on paper, Rs 38-lakh grants in kitty’, October 23) reported that Langah had got the grants in the name of the non-existent Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur (Gurdaspur). As per sources, the grant cheques were encashed and utilised in the Dhariwal block.

On the directions of the Punjab chief minister’s office, an inquiry has been initiated against former cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah.

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Gurdaspur deputy commissioner (DC) Abhinav Trikha has deputed additional deputy commissioner (ADC, development) Rakesh Kumar to probe “procedural and financial irregularities” in grants received by Langah from five ministers from 2009 to 2011.

The CM’s office marked the inquiry after Hindustan Times (‘College on paper, Rs 38-lakh grants in kitty’, October 23) reported that Langah had got the grants in the name of the non-existent Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur (Gurdaspur). As per sources, the grant cheques were encashed and utilised in the Dhariwal block.

Langah, agriculture minister in the Akali-BJP government (2007-12), is now claiming that his institution is a society, not a college, having an office at Kalanaur.

However, there is no building or electricity connection in the name of the so-called society at Kalanaur.

Meanwhile, the inquiry officer has summoned records of the district development and panchayat office and the institution run by Langah.

At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, some ministers had raised the matter of grants given to Langah, following which CM Parkash Singh Badal had told his cabinet colleagues not to give grants directly to private institutions.

Meanwhile, Abhinav Trikha said the inquiry report would be submitted in 15 days.