Ex-Punjab Minister Vijay Singla Gets Clean Chit: Police Find No Concrete Proof in Corruption Allegations

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Former Punjab Health Minister Dr. Vijay Singla has been given a clean chit by the Punjab Police in the high-profile corruption case that led to his dismissal from the state cabinet in 2022. However, the role of his Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Pradeep Kumar, remains under investigation.

The case, which was registered at Phase-8 Police Station in Mohali, alleged that Singla demanded a 1% commission in return for the allotment of government contracts worth crores. The police have now submitted a closure report in court, citing a lack of strong evidence against Singla. According to sources, the complainant Rajinder Singh, a government engineer on deputation at the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, has also given a statement in court agreeing with the closure report.

A final decision on the closure report will be taken by a Mohali court on July 14, keeping the case alive in public discourse.

Background of the Allegations

In May 2022, Rajinder Singh claimed that he was called to Punjab Bhawan, where he met then Health Minister Vijay Singla and OSD Pradeep Kumar. At the time, contracts worth ₹17 crore had already been issued, and an additional ₹58 crore in works were pending.

According to the complaint, Pradeep Kumar demanded a 2% commission—approximately ₹1.16 crore—from the ₹58 crore contract pool. When the demand was refused, Singh alleged that he received multiple WhatsApp calls and threats warning him of dire career consequences. On May 20, he was allegedly asked to pay ₹10 lakh, and on May 23, he reportedly met the Minister and OSD again at the Secretariat and secretly recorded instructions to pay a ₹5 lakh bribe.

Chargesheet and Ongoing Probe

While Vijay Singla has now been exonerated in the police closure report, a chargesheet has already been filed against OSD Pradeep Kumar, and the investigation into his role continues.

Questions Over Closure

The closure report has triggered public debate and raised questions regarding political accountability and transparency. The move is especially significant given the swift action taken by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had publicly announced Singla’s arrest and handed him over to the Vigilance Bureau in 2022. Singla was later granted bail on July 8, 2022.

Now, with the clean chit in place and court proceedings nearing closure, there are signs of Singla's political rehabilitation, as he has recently been appointed to various committees in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

What Lies Ahead

The court's final ruling on July 14 will determine whether the closure report is officially accepted. Meanwhile, public attention remains focused on the outcome of the ongoing probe into Pradeep Kumar and the larger implications for internal vigilance mechanisms in the state administration.