Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday submitted a detailed letter to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, alleging large-scale fraud in the purchase of 144 vehicles by the Punjab government. After meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Khaira addressed the media, expressing deep concern over the government’s “complete failure” to initiate an inquiry despite several days having passed since the matter came to light.
In his letter, Khaira wrote, “This procurement process, costing the exchequer crores of rupees, is riddled with irregularities that point towards blatant misuse of public funds. I humbly request your intervention to ensure a thorough and impartial probe.” He further noted that the state government’s inaction was creating doubts about its intent. “Instead of promptly ordering an investigation, the authorities seem to be shielding those responsible,” the letter stated.
Speaking to reporters outside the Governor’s residence, Khaira said, “The purchase of these vehicles raises serious questions about transparency. When public money is involved, the government must act decisively. Yet, we see no movement from the administration.” He claimed that officials deliberately overlooked key procurement norms and that tenders were either manipulated or not properly floated.
The MLA urged the Governor to direct a high-level investigation, preferably by an independent agency, to uncover the truth. “This is not a routine expenditure. The sheer scale of the purchase and the irregularities alleged make it imperative for a probe that is above political influence,” Khaira added.
Khaira also criticised the Punjab government for what he termed as its “habitual cover-up approach” when faced with corruption allegations. He said the silence of those in power only deepens public mistrust. “The government is accountable to the people. If it has nothing to hide, it should immediately release all records related to the purchase and initiate an inquiry,” he said.
Concluding his address, Khaira appealed to fellow legislators and opposition parties to jointly demand transparency in the matter. “This is about safeguarding public money and ensuring accountability. We cannot allow such frauds to go unchecked,” he said.