A week after Punjab Vigilence Bureau (VB) arrested former Chief Engineer Surinderpal Singh in a multi-crore graft case, it has been found that the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) chief engineer had massed illegal property worth Rs 1200 crores in the last fifteen years.
The state vigilance bureau found that engineer, who had backing of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, owns as many as 92 properties worth several crores of rupees. These properties were purchased by five firms floated by him in the name of his family members and associates.
India TV, in its investigation, found that the luxurious bungalow owned by Sureinderpal in Chandigarh’s Sector 27, alone is worth Rs 30 crore.
The VB told that in Ludhiana alone, he owns as many as 43 properties which include flats, shops and plots. Bungalow No. 39, situated in Ludhiana’s Defence Colony, is in the name of Singh’s mother Swarnjeet Kaur. Other than this, he has another property (address: SCF-18) in the city which is in the name of his wife Mandeep Kaur.
Moreover, he owns a flat (address: SCF-24) which is in the name of his business partner Mohinder Singh.
Other than Ludhiana, Surinderpal Singh, also known as ‘Pahalwan’, owns 14 properties in Mohali, 17 in Ropad, 12 in Moga and three in Mukhtasar. Other than these, he has plots in Sangrur, and a bungalow and plot in Chandigarh.
The agency told that Singh bought these properties between 2001 and 2015. But to skip the eyes of vigilance, he bought them in the name of his relatives and friends. These properties were purchased by five firms floated by him in the name of his family members and associates.
An official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said it had also found that a whopping Rs 57 crore was deposited in the name of three companies owned by Surinder Pal’s mother and wife.
How Surinderpal minted thousands of crores
Surinderpal was appointed as Junior Engineer through sports quota in 1993. He had the backing of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal of which he took full advantage.
Badals were so kind to the officer that in 2015 he was given 22 additional charges of high importance.
VB investigations revealed that the officer used to give extra advantage to its favourite construction firms and allotted contracts to them illegally.
Pehalwan was known for his corrupt practices in government circles and all dream projects of Sukhbir Badal were handed over to him.
The contractors in various department had refused to work under him due to high rates of commission He used to take 10 percent of the total cost of the project. Mohali to Chandigarh airport road is one fine monument of his corruption.
