Expedite Vigilance probe into fund embezzlement: Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State of Punjab and its functionaries to expedite the Vigilance inquiry into allegations of financial misappropriation linked to the “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” event and activities at the Faridkot’s Nehru Stadium.

Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj issued the directive while disposing of a petition filed by Kuldeep Singh Atwal. He was, among other things, seeking criminal action and FIR registration on the allegations of alleged embezzlement amounting to “crores of rupees”.

In a detailed order, Justice Bhardwaj asserted the petitioner was seeking directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to initiate criminal proceedings and to register the FIR for “embezzlement to the tune of lakhs of rupees in the name of “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan Faridkot-2023” and embezzlement of crores of rupees at the Nehru stadium, Faridkot.

Justice Bhardwaj also took note of the petitioner’s submissions that his complaints were “suppressed in collusion with officers, he was subjected to defamation, and the inquiry was obstructed in an illegal manner”. The court further noticed that the petitioner was praying for measures to protect his life and liberty.

Justice Bhardwaj’s Bench, during the course of proceedings, was informed by Senior Deputy Advocate-General Tarun Aggarwal on State of Punjab’s behalf that an inquiry into the matter had already been “marked to the Vigilance, Ferozepur, on October 29” and that it would be “concluded expeditiously in accordance with law”.

Taking a note of the submission, Justice Bhardwaj stated, “In view of the statement made by state counsel, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondents/state to conclude the inquiry, as submitted before this court, expeditiously in accordance with law.”