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Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab govt reinstates senior vigilance dept officials
The Punjab government has reinstated two senior officials of the vigilance bureau (VB) who were earlier suspended in connection with an investigation into alleged driving licence irregularities, according to copies of the orders seen by HT. The move that has raised questions about the consistency of the government's anti-corruption stance. However, the officer who headed the VB at the time, SPS Parmar, remains under suspension. The reinstated officers — Swarandeep Singh, assistant inspector general, vigilance bureau (SAS Nagar), and Harpreet Singh, senior superintendent of police, vigilance bureau (Jalandhar) — were suspended on April 26 alongside Parmar, a 1997-batch IPS officer. The suspensions had followed the launch of a statewide crackdown on corruption in regional transport authority (RTA) offices and driving test centres. At the time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government had projected the suspensions as a major step in its anti-corruption campaign, citing 'grave misconduct and dereliction of duty' under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The state government has not only revoked the suspensions of Swarandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh but also reinstated them to their previous posts in the vigilance bureau. According to the orders issued by the home secretary, their suspension period will be treated as a regular duty period. No official explanation has been provided for the reversal. Despite repeated attempts, home secretary Alok Shekhar couldn't be contacted for comments. Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government over the reinstatement of the two VB officers. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the credibility of the government's actions, highlighting the inconsistency between the suspension and the reinstatement of the officers. 'First, the AAP government suspended senior VB officers claiming a crackdown on corruption. Now, they're reinstated — same posts, suspension period not even counted. Both decisions can't be right,' Bajwa said. The decision has led to a wave of speculation, particularly since SPS Parmar — who was the Bureau's chief director at the time of the alleged scam — continues to remain suspended. Senior bureaucrats and police officers have questioned the logic behind the decision, pointing out that if the officers who conducted the field-level operations have been cleared, it is inconsistent to hold the supervisory officer solely responsible. 'If the cutting-edge officers are not at fault, how can the supervisory officer be?' said a senior IPS officer on a condition of anonymity. The vigilance operation launched in April had uncovered a widespread bribery network involving the illegal issuance of driving licences through middlemen, who allegedly took bribes to manipulate test results or expedite approvals without proper testing. Since Parmar's suspension, there has been little visible progress in the case under the new vigilance bureau chief, Praveen Kumar Sinha. The two absconding RTO officials — whose arrests were a key reason cited for Parmar's suspension — remain at large. Meanwhile, the Centre has formally approved Parmar's suspension and directed the Punjab government to issue him a chargesheet by June 26. He further alleged that the suspensions may have been politically motivated. 'Did the AAP suspend them to make them fall in line, and now they've complied? This isn't governance. It's intimidation,' he added. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia also criticised the move, pointing out that officers who were deemed 'corrupt' barely three weeks ago have now been quietly reinstated. 'This raises serious questions — either about the officers' integrity or the government's,' Majithia said. He alleged that the officials were initially expected to act against political opponents but did not comply with the government's demands. 'Now, a deal seems to have been struck,' Majithia claimed, suggesting that the reinstatement was a result of behind-the-scenes compromise. Majithia also demanded that the government issue a public apology and reinstate suspended officer SPS Parmar, arguing that his case is no different from those who have now been brought back to their positions.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Driving licence scam: Suspended a month back, 2 senior VB officials reinstated
In a move that has sparked confusion and raised questions about the consistency of its anti-corruption stance, the Punjab government has reinstated two senior officials of the vigilance bureau (VB) who were earlier suspended in connection with an alleged driving licence scam. However, the officer who headed the VB at the time, SPS Parmar, remains under suspension. The reinstated officers — Swarandeep Singh, assistant inspector general, vigilance bureau (SAS Nagar), and Harpreet Singh, senior superintendent of police, vigilance bureau (Jalandhar) — were suspended on April 26 alongside Parmar, a 1997-batch IPS officer. The suspensions had followed the launch of a statewide crackdown on corruption in regional transport authority (RTA) offices and driving test centres. At the time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government had projected the suspensions as a major step in its anti-corruption campaign, citing 'grave misconduct and dereliction of duty' under Rule 3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The state government has not only revoked the suspensions of Swarandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh but also reinstated them to their previous posts in the vigilance bureau. According to the orders issued by the home secretary, their suspension period will be treated as a regular duty period. No official explanation has been provided for the reversal. The decision has led to a wave of speculation, particularly since SPS Parmar — who was the Bureau's chief director at the time of the alleged scam — continues to remain suspended. Senior bureaucrats and police officers have questioned the logic behind the decision, pointing out that if the officers who conducted the field-level operations have been cleared, it is inconsistent to hold the supervisory officer solely responsible. 'If the cutting-edge officers are not at fault, how can the supervisory officer be?' said a senior IPS officer on a condition of anonymity. The vigilance operation launched in April had uncovered a widespread bribery network involving the illegal issuance of driving licences through middlemen, who allegedly took bribes to manipulate test results or expedite approvals without proper testing. Since Parmar's suspension, there has been little visible progress in the case under the new vigilance bureau chief, Praveen Kumar Sinha. The two absconding RTO officials — whose arrests were a key reason cited for Parmar's suspension — remain at large. Meanwhile, the Centre has formally approved Parmar's suspension and directed the Punjab government to issue him a chargesheet by June 26. Home secretary Alok Shekhar could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. Oppn slams AAP govt The Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government over the reinstatement of two VB officers. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the credibility of the government's actions, highlighting the inconsistency between the suspension and the reinstatement of the officers. 'First, the AAP government suspended senior VB officers claiming a crackdown on corruption. Now, they're reinstated — same posts, suspension period not even counted. Both decisions can't be right,' Bajwa said. He further alleged that the suspensions may have been politically motivated. 'Did the AAP suspend them to make them fall in line, and now they've complied? This isn't governance. It's intimidation,' he added. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia also criticised the move, pointing out that officers who were deemed 'corrupt' barely three weeks ago have now been quietly reinstated. 'This raises serious questions — either about the officers' integrity or the government's,' Majithia said. He alleged that the officials were initially expected to act against political opponents but did not comply with the government's demands. 'Now, a deal seems to have been struck,' Majithia claimed, suggesting that the reinstatement was a result of behind-the-scenes compromise. Majithia also demanded that the government issue a public apology and reinstate suspended officer SPS Parmar, arguing that his case is no different from those who have now been brought back to their positions.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Driving test by proxies, old videos used to trick automated system in Punjab
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau's April 7 surprise inspections at regional transport authority (RTA) offices and driving test centres across the state opened a Pandora's Box unravelling rampant corruption allegedly involving officials and their intermediaries (agents) charging illegal fees to expedite driving licence processing or manipulate driving test results. The raids led to the arrest of several people allegedly involved in bribery and malpractices. It was found that many licences were being issued without proper driving tests, through agents who were taking bribes from applicants. A total of 16 FIRs were registered and 24 people were arrested, including private agents and some government staff. The agents and officials were arrested from Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Bathinda and Gurdaspur. Investigations revealed that agents were bypassing the automated driving test system in multiple ways. Punjab has 32 automated tracks where driving tests are recorded on video and scored digitally. Agents, in collusion with RTO officials, were copy-pasting old video footage of candidates who had passed and uploaded it under the names of new applicants who never actually took the test. In many cases, the same vehicle was used multiple times, raising suspicion. Proxy drivers were also used to take tests on behalf of others, using vehicles arranged by agents. On Friday the state government suspended state vigilance bureau chief SPS Parmar and two other senior officers— assistant inspector general, VB, SAS Nagar, Swarandeep Singh, and senior superintendent of police, VB, Jalandhar, Harpreet Singh— for allegedly not taking action against the people involved in the alleged scam. However, many senior officials, privy to the development, have questioned the state government's move to take action against VB. 'It seems no action has been taken against the transport department. The question arises that it was VB, which after getting complaints on the Chief Minister's Anti-Corruption Action Line, took action and conducted raids to unearth the malpractices, while the transport department officials could go scot-free,' A senior IPS officer said on the condition of anonymity. 'How did such widespread and systemic corruption go unnoticed or unchecked? Didn't the senior officials of the transport department know about it?, an IPS officer said, asking why the top brass of the department, particularly civil servants, have not been acted against by the top state authorities. For the record, VB had arrested Ramandeep Singh Dhillon, assistant transport officer, SBS Nagar, while two others, Pardeep Singh Dhillon, RTO-Mohali and Ravinder Kumar Bansal, RTO-SBS Nagar, are currently on the run. The action came after chief secretary KAP Sinha, who also holds the charge of the vigilance department, granted permission under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act against officials. 'When bribery, fake documentation, and backdoor licensing were happening openly across multiple districts, was it merely negligence, or wilful ignorance? Is it not a serious lapse on the part of the department's top leadership that they failed to detect or act on irregularities happening so consistently in their field offices,' questioned another official pleading anonymity. Despite repeated attempts, chief secretary Sinha and transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar could not be contacted for comments.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Driving licence scam: Punjab vigilance head, 2 other officers suspended
The Punjab government on Friday suspended state vigilance bureau chief SPS Parmar and two other senior officers in connection with an alleged driving licence scam. 'Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, 1997-batch IPS officer, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect under Rule 3 (3) of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, for 'grave misconduct and dereliction of duty,' reads order of additional chief secretary (home) Alok Shekhar. The other suspended officials are assistant inspector general, VB, SAS Nagar, Swarandeep Singh, and senior superintendent of police, VB, Jalandhar, Harpreet Singh. The government suspended the officers for allegedly not taking action against the people involved in the alleged scam. Additional director general of police (NRI) Praveen Kumar Sinha will hold the additional charge of chief director, vigilance bureau. Sinha has been asked to assume posting immediately. Parmar's suspension marks the third top-level change in the vigilance bureau in as many months. In February, chief director Varinder Kumar was removed, followed by his successor G Nageshwar Rao in March. According to a government release, the vigilance bureau, earlier this month, had conducted surprise inspections at regional transport authority (RTA) offices and driving test centres across the state, leading to the arrest of several people allegedly involved in bribery and malpractices. The operation targeted RTA officials and agents who were acting as intermediaries, charging illegal fees to expedite driving licence processing or manipulate driving test results. It was found that many licences were being issued without proper driving tests, through agents who were taking bribes from applicants. A total of 16 FIRs were registered and 24 people were arrested, including private agents and some government staff, said the release. During the investigation, names of senior transport officers also came up. While one officer --- Ramandeep Singh Dhillon --- was arrested, two others, Pardeep Singh Dhillon, RTO Mohali and Ravinder Kumar Bansal, RTO SBS Nagar, are currently on the run. Despite the availability of evidence, no immediate action was taken against these officers, said the official release. Parmar, who headed the vigilance bureau, was issued a show-cause notice for this delay. However, even after the notice, no meaningful action followed. The continued inaction raised serious concerns within the government. It is also suspected that information may have been leaked from within the vigilance bureau, allowing the accused to flee, the release added. After a detailed review, the Punjab government took the decision to suspend Parmar for negligence and failure to act against corruption at the highest levels, it further said. Officials said the decision reflects the government's clear stand - that no officer, however senior, will be spared if they are found shielding wrongdoing. 'The fight against corruption will continue without compromise,' said a senior official. More arrests and internal reviews are expected as the investigation continues.
