Chandigarh: Records missing from a multi-crore scam involving the distribution of compensation worth crores of rupees for land acquisition for the Jalandhar-Chintpurni highway have been discovered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s Special Investigation Team (SIT).
It was also discovered that the then-SDM Anand Sagar Sharma had altered the draft 3-A schedule plan created by the Louis Berger Company, allegedly releasing money to people he knew who had bought land in the new road alignment through deception and illegal release totaling Rs 64 crore.
In this case, the Vigilance Bureau has now included Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and listed 42 additional accused parties, eight of whom were taken into custody on Saturday.
Thirteen accused, including Anand Sharma, who was the SDM-cum-Collector and Land Acquisition Officer at the time, Tehsildar Baljinder Singh, Naib Tehsildar Manjit Singh, Patwaris Daljit Singh, and Parvinder Kumar, have been arrested or have become part of the investigation, according to a Vigilance Bureau spokesperson.
He said that the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau had formed a three-person SIT under the direction of Rahul S, Director of the Vigilance Bureau, in accordance with the Special Judge of Ludhiana’s April 5, 2022, order for additional investigation into the case.
During the investigation, it was found that then SDM Anand Sharma had changed the highway alignment in five villages in Schedule 3-A prepared by him, which did not correspond to the original draft Schedule 3-A prepared by the Louis Berger Company after a survey.
