M A I N   N E W S

Pherurai held in Moga
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, a confidant of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, whose name figured prominently in the “cash-for-job” scam for allegedly offering the maximum bribe to get his son and daughter in the police and civil service, respectively, has finally landed in the police net.

His arrest early this morning is a significant breakthrough for the Punjab police as the police and the Vigilance Bureau have been tightening their dragnet on the Leader of the Opposition and SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

In almost all recent arrests of former Akali ministers, former or present Akali legislators or those believed to be close to Mr Badal , the police or vigilance officials have been “interrogating” them with specific instructions to garner “irrefutable evidence against Mr Badal” before executing his arrest in a “corruption case”, as was announced by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh yesterday.

The arrest of Pherurai may turn into an important link for further investigations against the former Chief Minister.

A team led by the DIG, Patiala Range, Mr Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, apprehended Pherurai after a raid was conducted on one of his hideouts in Moga.

Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, who retired as SSP, Ferozepore, had been on the run after a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him at Raikot police station in Jagraon police district on September 6. Non-bailable warrants of arrest had been issued against him a few days ago.

Though he is facing inquiries in several other cases, including the Arms Act and the fake currency case, his arrest has been made only in the corruption case. He will be produced before the Ilaqa Magistrate tomorrow for police remand.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the services of his daughter, who was appointed a PCS officer by the Punjab Public Service Commission headed by Ravi Sidhu, have been already dispensed with by the Punjab Government.

Though there were speculations in the media about his impending arrest for the past few days, he was formally taken into custody by a police party around 3 a.m. today. According to Mr M.S. Chhina, SSP, Jagraon a close vigil was being maintained on the known close contacts of Pherurai.

Mr Chhina said it was during the search of the house of his brother-in-law , Mr Gurcharan Singh, of Gholian Kalan village under Bagha Purana police station jurisdiction that Pherurai was arrested. The house where Pherurai was hiding was surrounded by a cluster of houses near Kothe Thana Singh. Gurcharan Singh Pherurai’s sister, Kamaljit Kaur, is married to Gurcharan Singh.

In fact, Pherurai walked into the police trap as he had come to see Mr Sukhwinder Singh, father-in-law of his sister, who had recently undergone a surgery at a private hospital in Dakha.

Pherurai shot into limelight after he was allegedly accused of “bribing the PPSC Chairman with fake currency notes” a couple of years ago. While chasing him after registering a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act on September 6, the Jagraon police recovered a huge quantity of “fake currency notes” from one of his houses. A fresh case was subsequently registered against him. His brother was also taken into custody after several “unlicensed firearms” were seized at his instance.

Pherurai also had a stint in the Chandigarh police where he, besides working in some police stations, also headed the CIA. During his tenure a Nihang was “killed in police custody”. He also remained posted at SAS Nagar before spending the last few years of his service at Ferozepore as the district police chief.

In fact, Pherurai is the first one among those who allegedly “bribed” the PPSC Chairman to get his daughter into the PCS in the “cash-for-job” scam. The Vigilance Bureau is yet to lay its hands on certain other important links in the recruitment scam, including a serving PCS officer, who was allegedly instrumental in introducing Pherurai to the then PPSC Chairman. Even those who got into service either through “bribes” or “influence” are yet to be apprehended in the case.