Punjab: Ex-CM Charanjit Singh Channi summoned in disproportionate assets case
Punjab's Vigilance Bureau has summoned former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday for questioning in a disproportionate assets case. As per reports, the bureau has prepared a source report about Channi's assets, which will be tallied with a list of assets he owns. Last month, the bureau issued a lookout circular (LOC) against Channi after learning that he was planning to fly abroad.
Why does this story matter?
The summons comes amid speculations of Channi joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and after the release of Navjot Singh Sidhu from jail. Notably, the Congress made Channi Punjab's first Dalit CM in 2021 by replacing Captain Amarinder Singh months before the state Assembly elections in Punjab. Sidhu was reportedly eyeing the CM's chair but entered a row with the Congress after being snubbed.
Channi's nephew was held with Rs. 10 crore before election
Channi has also been accused of extending undue favors to certain contractors while he was in office. Last year, before the Punjab Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested his nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey with Rs. 10 crore cash. Honey was reportedly accused of assisting sand mining contractors in obtaining tenders and facilitating the transfer and posting of officials in exchange for bribes.
Channi termed ED's action as political vendetta
Regarding Honey's arrest, Channi had termed it a vendetta by central probe agencies. Meanwhile, the action against Channi is being perceived as a political tactic to arm-twist him into breaking away from the Congress. He reportedly met with some BJP leaders in Punjab earlier, adding fuel to the speculation. Sidhu, on the other hand, has made amends with Congress leaders after his release.
CM Bhagwant Mann earlier targeted Channi
Last year, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann questioned Channi's absence after losing the elections and said that he wanted to send him behind bars. Mann had claimed that Channi made many "anti-people" decisions near the end of his tenure.
Channi battling multiple allegations of corruption
Corruption allegations against Channi were also brought to light in a Right to Information (RTI) response, which stated that while Channi was the CM, he spent Rs. 60 lakh on his food bill over three months. A complaint also alleged the Tourism Department spent Rs. 1.47 crore on a program called Dastan-e-Shahadat, which was held in his Assembly constituency, Chamkaur Sahib, in November 2021.
