The vegetable vendor and his nephew stuck to their stand against the now-suspended municipal commissioner MS Jaggi before the inquiry officer on Thursday.
In the ongoing fact-finding inquiry against Jaggi, who has been under suspension since Tuesday for having misused his powers to victimise a vegetable vendor, inquiry officer AS Pannu (Patiala divisional commissioner) recorded the statements of the victim, accused, officials and workers of municipal corporation.
Both the vegetable vendor Kamlesh Pal and his nephew Sukhbir remained firm on their stand of having been targeted by the tehbazari officials on the directions of Jaggi.
Talking to HT on Thursday, Pal said: "The tehbazari officials denied having singled me out by removing my vend for three days. Instead, they maintained that they had erased a couple of other vends also, which is not true and all the shopkeepers in the vicinity can testify the same."
Pal further stated that he was shocked when inspector Naveen Malhotra in tehbazari wing, who had called him to his office soon after the incident, denied having met him. "I, along with another vendor, had gone to meet Malhotra where he categorically told me that I won't be allowed to run my vend as my nephew had misbehaved with Jaggi's wife. But he denied having met me in front of the inquiry officer," Pal added.
Last week, Jaggi's wife Inderbir Kaur had gone to buy vegetables at the Dandi Swami Chowk. Following an altercation with Kamlesh's nephew, she threatened him with dire consequences. Thereafter, the tehbazari wing of LMC kept removing his vend for three consecutive days.
Pal alleged that after every visit, wherein his vegetables were destroyed, the inspector used to call Inderbir Kaur and inform her about the "accomplished task".
Last week, Jaggi's wife Inderbir Kaur had gone to buy vegetables at the Dandi Swami Chowk. Following an altercation with Kamlesh's nephew, she threatened him with dire consequences. Thereafter, the tehbazari wing of LMC kept removing his vend for three consecutive days.
Pal alleged that after every visit, wherein his vegetables were destroyed, the inspector used to call Inderbir Kaur and inform her about the "accomplished task".
Pannu also visited the site of the incident and spoke to other vendors and shopkeepers. When contacted, Pannu said: "I have completed the inquiry and will submit the report tomorrow. I cannot disclose the details, as it is for the government to make the report public."