The Vigilance Department has taken action against Raman Arora in a corruption case linked to Sukhdev Vashist, the former Assistant Town Planner (ATP) of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Note that Sukhdev Vashist was recently arrested on corruption charges.
Chandigarh: The Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to its anti-corruption campaign. On Friday, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau conducted raids on various locations belonging to Raman Arora, AAP MLA from Jalandhar Central, causing a stir in political circles.
This action stems from a high-profile corruption case involving Sukhdev Vashist, the former Assistant Town Planner (ATP) of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Sukhdev Vashist was taken into custody by the Vigilance Department a few days ago, and now MLA Raman Arora's name has emerged in connection with the same case.
What are the allegations?
Preliminary investigations allege that MLA Raman Arora, in collusion with some municipal corporation officials, sent fake notices to ordinary citizens. These notices threatened legal action and then extorted large sums of money under the guise of settling the matter.
Sources suggest that Sukhdev Vashist was the main operative in this racket, allegedly controlled by Arora. It is also being said that this system had been operating smoothly for years until some victims filed complaints with the Vigilance Bureau.
AAP's Strong Response
It is noteworthy that the Punjab Police withdrew Raman Arora's security detail about 10 days ago. The 14 security personnel deployed with him were suddenly removed. While this move was initially described as a routine administrative decision, it is now becoming clear that the Vigilance Bureau's preparations were underway beforehand.
The Aam Aadmi Party has taken a clear stance on this matter. Posting on the party's official social media handle, it stated, "Even if the guilty party is one of our own, corruption will not be tolerated in any form. The law will take its course." The party also clarified that if Arora is found guilty in the investigation, he will be expelled from the party without delay.
The Vigilance Bureau's action against the MLA has brought a new twist to Punjab's politics. Opposition parties, especially the Congress and Akali Dal, have reacted sharply to these developments. The Congress questioned why such individuals were given tickets, while the Akali Dal accused AAP of "hypocrisy on corruption".
