CHANDIGARH: The Punjab vigilance bureau on Friday questioned former chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi at its state headquarters in Mohali for over seven hours in the alleged disproportionate assets case.
Channi, who became the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab in September 2021, reached the vigilance bureau office at 11.15 am on Friday along with his advocate. While entering the vigilance office, he termed it ‘vendetta politics’ while questioning the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) government for advancing his appearance date before the vigilance bureau from April 20 to April 14 on a public holiday on account of Baisakhi and the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar. He left the vigilance office at around 6.30 pm.
“The incumbent Bhagwant Mann government is treating even worse than the Mughal government and is trying to defame and humiliate in every way. This is not the way in a democracy that they are trying to build an illegal case without any reason,” said the visibly upset Channi after coming out of the vigilance bureau headquarters. The Congress leader further added that he stands by what he had told in the press conference on Friday morning. “They are free to do whatever they want to do with me,” he added.
The former chief minister said that those who were saying that Channi is having Rs 170 crore properties and his son is having Rs 4.50 crore worth cars, he asks them to show these assets. “I have always worked with honesty…They can’t kill me though they might try. I have said that these cases would not affect me, if you can do, do what has been done with Moosewala (late Punjabi singer who was shot dead on May 29 last year). Otherwise you can’t do anything,” said Channi.
The vigilance officers, it is learnt, questioned Channi about the details of movable and immovable assets owned by him, his family members and relatives. He was also questioned about the recovery of nearly Rs 16 crore in January last year from the premises of his nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey and his associate Sandeep Kumar’s residence by the enforcement directorate. The vigilance officers also questioned the Congress leader about the purpose of his long stay in US and Canada after the 2022 Punjab vidhan sabha polls in which Channi lost from Chamkaur Sahib as well as Bhadaur assembly segments. He was also asked questions about a complaint alleging diversion of funds from an official function for his son’s marriage and also about the mining activities especially in Ropar district during the previous Congress regime.
Initially, the vigilance bureau had summoned Channi on April 12 but on former chief minister’s request the vigilance bureau changed the date for April 20. But, on Thursday when Channi questioned the AAP government in Jalandhar over various issues, the vigilance preponed his questioning date to April 14. This is for the first time that Channi appeared before the vigilance bureau in this case. The vigilance bureau had earlier on March 7 issued a look out circular(LOC) against Channi to stop him from leaving the country.