Taking cognizance of the news reports published in a section of press, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered the Vigilance Bureau(VB) to conduct a detailed enquiry to get at the bottom of the case regarding the involvement of government officers involved in the commercial activities of Sherwood Officers’ Society (Regd.) Amritsar. He has asked the VB to complete the enquiry within two months.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that in view of the seriousness of the matter the vigilance bureau has been asked to probe into all aspects beginning from registration of the society, violation of service and conduct rules, collection of money from non-official members and carrying out commercial activities while in government service including misuse of official positions. Mr. Badal also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that the VB was provided all assistance by concerned departments in order to complete the enquiry expeditiously.
It may be recalled that the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Chandigarh and Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) New Delhi have passed orders to recovery of Rs.21.80 crore from the Sherwood Officers’ Society (Regd.), Amritsar. The society has been promoted by senior officers of the state government who were founding members and office bearers of the society. The DRT and DRAT have made critical remarks on the activities of the founding members of the said society and have also asked the state government to take action against these officers. These authorities have also received a complaint of collecting money without allotment of plots.