Assistant food supply officer accused of graft
A tug-of-war has erupted between the Chairman of Market Committee, Sirhind, and Assistant Food Supply Officer (AFSO) over the allegations of corruption and the matter has reached the Chief Minister’s office.
Saidpura village panchayat led by Gurwinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman of the Market Committee, and sarpanch Harvinder Singh have lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner alleging that the Sirhind AFSO had demanded Rs 10,000 bribe for releasing gas cylinders that he had impounded from two shops at Sadhugarh village.
The DC has marked an inquiry to the Fatehgarh Sahib SDM.
On the other hand, AFSO Kewal Singh has denied the allegations and dared Dhillon to submit proof in support of the charges.
Talking to the media, Dhillon alleged that on November 21 AFSO Kewal Singh had forcibly taken away two empty LPG cylinders from the shops at Sadhugarh. The cylinders belonged to a Saidpura resident who had kept these in his shop for getting these refilled from a gas agency.
He alleged that Kewal Singh demanded Rs 10,000 for releasing the cylinders. Dhillon added that he has also brought the matter to the notice of the CM.
When contacted, AFSO Kewal Singh said he had raided two shops at Sadhugarh village on a complaint that some shopkeepers were filling LPG from domestic cylinders in small cylinders in an illegal manner and selling these at higher rates, so he impounded the cylinders.
He said the Market Committee Chairman had put pressure on him to release the cylinders, but he refused. The AFSO added that he would complain against the Chairman to the CM.
