M A I N   N E W S

RAVI SIDHU CASE
Security cover for Bhupjit, Munjal
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10
Realising their importance as key links as well as their vulnerability to threats which may even lead to physical harm, the Intelligence Wing of the Punjab police has decided to provide security cover to both Mr Bhupjit Singh, the main complainant, and his friend, Mr Chander Mohan Munjal, in the PPSC recruitment scam.

Because of the widespread ramifications of the country’s biggest-ever recruitment scam, there has been considerable concern over the “safety and security of the prime persons, the main architects” in the case, sources in the Intelligence Wing said, maintaining that not only were Mr Bhupjit Singh and his lawyer friend, Mr Munjal, running a “considerable risk”, but threats were also being issued to Mr Parminder Singh, another key figure in the case, who acted as a link between the complainants and the police.

Both Mr Munjal and Mr Bhupjit Singh have been provided with two gunmen each.

“Unfortunately, I have lost faith in the Vigilance Bureau for it did not bother to get back to me after the March 25 trap was successful,” said Mr Munjal holding that “all the trust and faith I had placed in the Intelligence officers — Mr A.P. Bhatnagar and Mr Sumedh Singh Saini — has proved true as they are police officers who could unearth a scam of such magnitude.

“It was I who persuaded Mr Bhupjit Singh to take the police into his confidence after a big demand was made from him for appointing him to the PCS from the Inspector cadre. We did it in the interest of the people, the meritorious job-seekers, as we were appalled by the happenings in the Punjab Public Service Commission.

“I have no stakes in the PPSC as none of my close relatives has been to the commission in the past nor is there any chance of anyone going there in the near future. But I felt that it was my duty as a citizen to see to it that the malpractices going on in a constitutional body were checked and stopped,” said Mr Munjal, revealing that his subsequent attempts to get in touch with the top brass of the Vigilance Bureau were “disappointing as not even our telephone calls were returned.”

“Intriguingly, the day the trap was successful, both of us were profusely congratulated by the then Chief Director, Mr S.V. Singh, and the Director, Mr A.P. Pandey, on our ‘historic feat’. But afterwards we were forgotten and no one bothered about us, or the perception of threat to which not only we but all members of our families stand exposed.

“Every day more and more names are figuring on the tainted list, meaning thereby that the list of our sworn enemies has been on the increase. Though I am not bothered about my own security, but should the Vigilance Bureau not take steps to ensure that we are not exposed to danger and are looked after well? It was our duty to bring the culprit to the book. And I feel that other people should also be encouraged to do the same, help the government in wiping out this menace from our country,” Mr Munjal said.

“In spite of direct and indirect threats given to us, we are steadfast in our fight against corruption. If need be, I am not afraid of walking up to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh — who appears to be a man of integrity and commitment and has taken the fight against corruption seriously — and narrating to him all that has happened in the case so far. I get a feeling that the investigations are not progressing the way they should. The main issues are being sidetracked. Some of the prime players in the whole scam have been allowed to escape, exposing us to much greater risks,” Mr Munjal added.