Auction row: Mother, sister-in-law of highest bidder in race for top post

In Hardorwal Kalan village of Gurdaspur district, former sarpanch Atma Singh, who had placed Rs 2 crore bid to be unanimously elected, did not file his nomination. However, in Kothe Cheedian Wale village in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment, the mother and sister-in law (brother’s wife) of the highest bidder (~ 35.5 lakh) for the post of sarpanch have filed their nominations. The post of sarpanch at Kothe Cheedian Wale village is a ‘woman reserved’ this time and three candidates have filed their nominations after a controversial auction for the post.

Jagmail Singh, alias Amrik Singh, was reported as the highest bidder, offering Rs 35.5 lakh in a viral video that surfaced on social media. Despite his bid, Amrik Singh’s wife chose not to file her nomination, fearing potential police action. Amrik, a six-acre landowner with sons settled abroad, was unavailable for comment, and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

However, when this correspondent contacted his father Gurcharan Singh, the man who took the phone call did not reveal his identity but claimed himself as a neighbour, said: “Gurcharan Singh’s wife, Jaspal Kaur, and his son Tarsem Singh’s wife, Gurwinder Kaur, have filed their nominations. Another woman from the village, Jaswinder Kaur, wife of Sukhdev Singh, also submitted her candidacy.”

Gidderbaha SDM Jaspal Singh Brar, investigating the auction, stated that the highest bidder, Amrik Singh, did not have the financial capacity to pay Rs 35.5 lakh. The SDM mentioned that legal action could be taken if only one nomination, particularly from Amrik’s family, had been filed. The deadline for withdrawing nominations is October 7.