Taking the investigation into the grant embezzlement scam forward, the vigilance bureau claim to have arrested three more men, who allegedly helped Sarabdyal Singh, PA to former animal husbandry minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, and his brother-in-law Harjit Singh in the embezzlement of funds.
They are Jagtar Singh, Balwinder Singh and Sushil Kumar. Both Jagtar and Balwinder are residents of Gehri Mandi near Jandiala, the native place of Harjit.
Jagtar and Balwinder, both misled by Harjit, opened fake accounts by submitting their photographs and fake documents and withdrew Rs 10 lakh each and gave it to Sarbdyal; they got their share in the money.
The vigilance bureau, during investigations, found that Harjit had also opened five fake accounts by submitting his photograph in various banks of the city and embezzled Rs 27 lakh. The entire embezzlement was done from the discretionary grants of Ranike.
Giving details, Amritsar Vigilance Bureau SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman, said, "During the police custody, Harjit admitted that he used his photograph and fake documents to open bank accounts in Punjab and Sind Bank, State Bank of India and State Bank of Patiala. To embezzle Rs 27 lakh, Harjit received grant cheques from Sarabdyal."
Ghuman said during the raids at Harjit's house, they had also found fake stamps of sarpanches and various sports and youth clubs. In these fake accounts, Harjit had shown himself as president of various sports and youth clubs, he said, adding that Balwinder after being egged on by Harjit had opened two fake accounts and after showing himself as president of a sports club embezzled Rs 5 lakh each using the two accounts. Jagtar had also opened two fake accounts and withdrawn Rs 10 lakh, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Ghuman said during the raids at Harjit's house, they had also found fake stamps of sarpanches and various sports and youth clubs. In these fake accounts, Harjit had shown himself as president of various sports and youth clubs, he said, adding that Balwinder after being egged on by Harjit had opened two fake accounts and after showing himself as president of a sports club embezzled Rs 5 lakh each using the two accounts. Jagtar had also opened two fake accounts and withdrawn Rs 10 lakh, he said.
{{/usCountry}}On the role of accused Sushil Kumar, Ghuman said Sushil had remained a bank employee and had helped Sarabdyal open 17 bank accounts in various banks.