Punjab ex-CM Charanjit Singh Channi may face inquiry in illegal mining case

Chandigarh, July 14

Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi may face another inquiry after the name of his close aide from Chamkaur Sahib cropped up in a case of illegal mining there, along with the name of IFS officer Amit Chauhan.

Sources in the government told The Tribune that a thorough investigation was being conducted after the name of a sarpanch, believed to be a close aide of Channi, came up in the investigation into the illegal mining case. Channi is stated to be out of the country.

The Aam Aadmi Party tweeted today that be it a minister or Chief Minister, no one would be spared, and the government would act strictly against those who had looted public money. The party was referring to the illegal mining case of Jindapur village. The party, in the run-up to the elections last year, had claimed that illegal mining on forest land in the village was going on.

The government has also started an inquiry against the misuse of grants given to the constituency of the former Chief Minister during the term of the previous government. The sources said the government would inquire into the grants worth Rs 140 crore given during his term to Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar and Anandpur Sahib. The inquiry would look into the utilisation of these funds in the constituencies, especially in Chamkaur Sahib, which received a majority of the grants.