Chandigarh, January 12
The Election Commission of India today transferred Senior Superintendent of Police, (Vigilance wing), Ludhiana, Surinderjit Singh Mand out of the state for allegedly “misusing his authority and official vehicle” for transporting cash belonging to the ruling party.

Mand has been transferred to Uttaranchal as an election observer with immediate effect. He will be in Uttaranchal till the completion of election process. The action followed a complaint by former Chief Minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh alleging that Mand misused his authority and official vehicle to pay Rs 25 lakh to a Congress rebel in Gurdaspur.

Confirming the development, CEO, Punjab, Kusumjit Sidhu said the Election Commission had ordered his immediate transfer. Written orders on his transfer were received by the CEO office in the evening. He has been asked to join at Uttaranchal today.

Sources said she had written to the EC about the complaint today morning. Capt Amarinder had levelled serious allegations of misuse of official vehicles to buy the Congress rebels against Mand. He had also levelled allegations against State Vigilance and State Intelligence officials.

Kusumjit had sought a report from Chief Secretary Subodh Chandra Agrawal in this case. The Commission is closely watching the activities of State Intelligence and Vigilance officials, said the sources.

Talking to The Tribune, Mand denied all the allegations and said he had not gone to Batala for last five years. “How could I carry cash to a place where I have not been in the recent past? And I am not a Constable that I will be carrying cash for a political party. I am shocked at the complaint”, he said.

This is for the first time that a PPS official has been transferred to another state. “It is up to the Commission to transfer anybody anywhere,” said Kusumjit.