Punjab’s Vigilance Bureau has arrested a former MLA, Satwant Mohi, currently a BJP member, in connection with a long-dormant corruption case involving the hiring of 312 medical officers in 2008-09. The investigation, completed nine years ago, had lain dormant until a recent court hearing spurred its revival.
Mohi allegedly manipulated the recruitment process by exploiting a clause offering extra credit for social service. The Vigilance suspects forged social service certificates were used to gain an unfair advantage. They have requested police action against several implicated medical officers.
Surprisingly, the list of accused includes two deceased individuals – former PPSC chairman SK Sinha and retired Brig DS Grewal – besides Mohi, DS Mahal, Ravinder Kaur (daughter-in-law of ex-minister Lal Singh), and BJP spokesman Anil Sarin.
Explaining the delayed action, the Vigilance attributed it to a recent court hearing prompting them to revisit the case. They further clarified that the high court had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2013 to probe the matter, following irregularities reported in the recruitment process.
The 2014 SIT report, endorsed by then-Vigilance DG Suresh Arora and Joint CBI Commissioner (retd) MS Baali, found the entire recruitment process riddled with “blatant irregularities.” The FIR filed in Patiala details how the PPSC deviated from established procedures and disregarded its own rules.
