CHANDIGARH: Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Satnam Singh Chahal has strongly demanded that the daily functioning and official activities of all IAS, IPS, PCS officers, Ministers, MLAs, and MPs in Punjab should be monitored directly by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) rather than state-level vigilance agencies.
Chahal pointed out that state vigilance mechanisms have repeatedly failed to act decisively against corruption, leaving many high-profile cases unresolved for years. “Cases that expose massive corruption at senior levels either drag on for decades or result in acquittals due to procedural delays, lack of independence, or political influence, ” he stated.
Several recent examples illustrate this persistent problem:
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, arrested by the CBI in 2025, had amassed vast wealth through alleged bribery, yet the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had not taken action against him before the CBI intervened.
Bikram Singh Majithia, former minister and SAD leader, faces charges of disproportionate assets, yet his case remains pending despite a 40, 000-page charge sheet and 200 witnesses.
Rakesh Kumar Singla, former Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, had multiple properties attached by the vigilance agency, but the case is still unresolved.
Other vigilance officials and bureaucrats in Punjab have been accused of corruption but later reinstated or declared innocent due to procedural loopholes, demonstrating the inconsistency of state oversight.
“These cases clearly show that corruption among senior officers and public representatives continues unabated, ” Chahal said. “Accusations may exist, but effective action is often missing, eroding citizens’ trust in governance.”
NAPA urges the Prime Minister of India and the Union Home Minister to implement a system where all senior officers and elected representatives in Punjab are under daily observation by the CBI. This, Chahal emphasised, is necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and prompt action against corrupt practices.