Crackdown on officials across ranks for corruption

Heads are rolling over allegations of corruption in Punjab, especially in the Police Department, with cops across ranks — from constables to senior officials — falling under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s anti-corruption drive.

The AAP government had promised Punjab voters that it would tackle corruption if elected in the 2022 Assembly elections. Alongside its ongoing crackdown on drugs under the Yudh Nashyan Virudh operation, the administration has shown no hesitation in acting against even top-most officials. Previously, corruption drives seemed limited to lower-ranked officials, but now even Vigilance Chief, Special DGP SPS Parmar, is under suspension since April 25 in the driving licence scam, while Fazilka SSP Varinder Brar was suspended today (May 28).

Brar’s suspension follows the arrest of four cybercrime police personnel accused of extorting ?1 lakh from a minor’s family by threatening false implications in a case.

Parmar’s suspension on April 25 also led to action against SSP Harpreet Singh Mander and AIG Swarandeep Singh, who were suspended in connection with the driving licence scam. However, in a controversial move, the Punjab Government reinstated Mander and Swarandeep Singh on May 18, drawing criticism over the reversal of disciplinary measures.

Adding to the list, Punjab Police constable Amandeep Kaur was booked on May 26 for amassing disproportionate assets worth ?1.35 crore. Investigators found that Kaur had accumulated properties far exceeding her legitimate earnings, prompting the Vigilance Bureau to take over the probe.

The crackdown has also reached Punjab’s political circles. AAP MLA Raman Arora was arrested on May 23 following a Vigilance Bureau raid at his residence in Jalandhar. He is accused of orchestrating a racket involving bogus municipal notices and extortion, sending shockwaves through the ruling party.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated his government’s commitment to transparency, stating, “No one is above the law — not even our own.”

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema added, “This is not just about suspensions and arrests. We are dismantling the very networks that have allowed corruption to thrive for decades.”

Punjab