Chandigarh — Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has submitted a detailed complaint to the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, alleging massive corruption in the procurement of 144 Toyota Hilux pickup vehicles for the Punjab Police’s Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF). The complaint directly names Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, and his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman, as key figures in the alleged scam.
In the letter, Khaira has demanded an immediate probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Indian Penal Code, and other financial laws. He alleges that the state exchequer suffered a loss of ₹14.4 to ₹21.6 crore due to the failure to negotiate bulk discounts on the Toyota Hilux vehicles, which were purchased through Globe Toyota, Mohali, instead of directly from the manufacturer Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd.
Khaira further claims that two Toyota Innova vehicles were allegedly gifted by Globe Toyota to CM’s OSD, Mr. Rajbir Ghuman, as “illegal gratification” in exchange for bypassing proper procurement procedures. He also highlighted a lack of transparency and violations of General Financial Rules (GFR), stating that the involvement of an intermediary dealership instead of direct engagement with the manufacturer raises suspicions of profiteering.
Due to the inter-state financial nature of the transactions and the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials, Khaira has urged the DGP to initiate a preliminary inquiry and refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He cited several Supreme Court rulings reinforcing the need for accountability and transparency in public procurement.
The letter also includes documents such as comparative invoices showing discounted prices offered to private buyers for the same Toyota Hilux vehicles, allegedly ignored in the government purchase.
In his complaint, Khaira has demanded:
Seizure of all procurement records and billing documents,
An impartial probe into the alleged gifting of vehicles to CM’s OSD,
Protection of his identity under the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014, and
Timely updates on the progress of the investigation.
The Punjab government and the DGP’s office have yet to issue an official response.
This complaint comes at a politically sensitive time, intensifying pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which has often claimed to run a corruption-free administration. The issue is likely to stir a major political storm in the coming days.