Streetlight scam: Sandhu, 4 others get Punjab and Haryana HC reprieve

CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to Captain Sandeep Sandhu, former aide of former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, his associate Harpreet Singh and contractor Gaurav Sharma in a case related to their alleged involvement in Rs 65 lakh streetlight scam. The high court also granted a regular bail to two officials Lakhwinder Singh and Satwinder Singh Kang who had been lodged in jail following their arrest.
On October 4, 2022, Sandhu was booked by the vigilance bureau Punjab in this case. The main allegations included misappropriation of grant meant for installation of streetlights in some villages of Ludhiana district.
Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill of the HC passed these orders while allowing a petition filed by Sandhu and others.
Claiming false implication in the case, Sandhu had submitted that the case against him is abuse of process of law because he was not occupying any government position through which he could have influenced the government officials.
Opposing the petitions, the state counsel had submitted that it is a case where the complicity of the accused is clearly evident and that during the course of investigation, call details of accused Sandeep Singh Sandhu, Harpreet Singh and Satvinder Singh Kang, BDPO, had been collected, which clearly show that they were regularly in touch with each other.
It was further submitted that the very fact that a contract was issued in favour of accused Gaurav Sharma for installation of LED lights at a rate which is almost double the approved rate, clearly shows that all the accused were hands in gloves with each other.
It was also submitted that the petitioner Sandeep Singh Sandhu, who was closed to the then Chief Minister of Punjab, had exercised his influence in getting the contract in favour of the petitioner Gaurav Sharma at exorbitant rates and all the accused had shared the profit so earned by dubious means.
On September 27, 2022, the Vigilance Bureau had arrested block development panchayat officer Satwinder Singh Kang and Lakhwinder Singh, chairman, block samiti, Sidhwan Bet, for misappropriation of Rs 65 lakh while purchasing streetlights at double cost than the approved rate which were to be installed in 26 villages.
VB had also booked Gaurav Sharma, proprietor of Amar Electrical Enterprises, who was the contractor. On September 28, 2022 Sandhu's distant relative Harpreet Singh and on October 4, 2022 Capt Sandhu were also nominated in the case.
VB also alleged that BDPO Kang during his posting in Sidhwan Bet block had received an official grant for installation of streetlights in 26 villages. In order to embezzle the funds, the said BDPO in criminal connivance with Gaurav Sharma had deliberately purchased lights at a cost of Rs 7,288 per light against the approved rate of Rs 3,325. In this way he had misappropriated government grants to the tune of Rs 65 lakh for his own use and caused financial loss to the state exchequer, the VB added.
SSP Vigilance Bureau (economics offences wing) Suba Singh said, "The technical team of VB found that out of Rs 65 lakh received, only Rs 14 lakh were spent and rest were embezzled by the accused."