Latest news with #BDPO
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BDPO faces pay cut, disciplinary action over repeated non-compliance of info panel's orders
1 2 Chandigarh: Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) has recommended strict disciplinary action and salary deduction against a block development and panchayat officer (BDPO)-cum-public information officer (PIO) for repeatedly ignoring commission directives under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 and bailable warrants. State Information Commissioner (SIC) Dr Bhupinder Batth issued the directions during a hearing on an appeal filed by a resident of Patiala. The appellant was awaiting information since Dec 14, 2022, despite multiple hearings and official notices spanning over two years. During the initial hearing on Dec 14, 2022, the respondent sought time to furnish the requested information. The matter was adjourned to March 28, 2023, when another delay was sought. On April 24, 2023, a show-cause notice was issued to the PIO, and the case was further deferred to May 29, 2023. When the PIO, Krishan Singh, failed to appear on May 29, the commission imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 and issued bailable warrants against him. Despite this, he remained absent on July 18, Aug 16, and Sept 20, 2023. After the retirement of former SIC Maninder Singh Patti, the case was reallocated to SIC Dr Bhupinder Batth, with the next hearing scheduled for Jan 29, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo On that day, the appellant was unable to attend due to his wife's illness, but panchayat secretary Jarnail Singh appeared on behalf of the respondent. He informed the commission that Krishan Singh is now posted as BDPO, Chogawan, Amritsar. The commission directed both Krishan Singh and the present PIO of BDPO, Patran, to appear with point-wise replies. However, neither officer appeared, nor did they inform the commission of their absence. The appellant reiterated that no information was provided to him to date. The commission, upon reviewing the case file, noted that despite repeated notices and hearing orders, Krishan Singh consistently failed to comply. Moreover, the Rs 25,000 penalty imposed over a year ago remains unpaid, underscoring, as the commission observed, a "complete lack of regard for the RTI regime." Taking serious note of what it called a "deliberate and disrespectful" dereliction of duty, the commission recommended disciplinary action under Section 20(2) of the RTI Act, 2005 against Krishan Singh, now BDPO, Chogawan. The order was forwarded to financial commissioner, rural development and panchayats, with directions to ensure recovery of the Rs 25,000 penalty by deducting it from Krishan Singh's salary. They were instructed to initiate strict disciplinary proceedings under applicable service rules and submit an action taken report within 30 days of receiving the order. In addition, the commission granted a final opportunity to the current PIO (BDPO, Patran, Patiala) to appear before the commission on the next date of hearing with the complete information. Failing this, action under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act will be initiated. The case has been listed for further hearing on Oct 14. MSID:: 122319348 413 |
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
Ferozepur police nabs five drug traffickers with heroin and ICE
FEROZEPUR: In its ongoing campaign against drugs in the state, special police teams in Ferozepur led by senior officials claim to have arrested five drug traffickers in three separate operations, seizing a substantial quantity of narcotics and other items including the ICE (crystal meth) drug on Wednesday. While giving details, Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur informed that the operations were carried out under the supervision of Naveen Kumar, SP (Headquarters), DSP (Detective), Mohit Dhawan, Incharge CIA Ferozepur, Barjinder Singh Sran SHO Makhu, and Jagdeep Singh, SHO Kulgarhi. The combined seizures included 1.774 kg heroin, 400 grams of ICE (crystal meth), a Swift car, a motorcycle, and five mobile phones. The Makhu police recovered 400 grams of ICE drug, a Swift car, and three mobile phones from Bhuvnesh Singh (30) and Dhariaveer Singh (25) near the BDPO office on National Highway Makhu. Likewise, the Ferozepur police nabbed Karan (alias Karan Pehalwan) and Gurjant Singh (24) from Kutbe Wala–Dulchi Ke Road, and seized 1.552 kg heroin, a motorcycle, and two mobile phones. Karan is a repeat offender with four previous cases under the Arms Act involving recovery of pistols, charges of attempted murder, voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons, and resisting lawful arrest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo In yet another case, police recovered 22 grams of heroin from Ranjit Singh (18) near Satiawala village. Sidhu said what is more painful is the involvement of young individuals in the age group of 18 and 30, in all three cases highlights the growing concern of youth falling prey to drug trafficking and abuse in the region.
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sidhu demands suspension of Mohali BDPO over alleged ₹13-cr scam
Former Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has demanded immediate suspension of Mohali block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) Dhanwant Singh Randhawa, alleging large-scale corruption, financial irregularities and political misuse of power. Former Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu (HT File) Addressing the media on Tuesday, Sidhu claimed that Randhawa released ₹ 13 crore to a private firm, Meticulous Enterprises, for cleaning and renovation of a pond in Bakarpur village—work that was allegedly never executed. He also cited a separate incident where ₹ 1.72 lakh was withdrawn from the panchayat account of Kurra village for the construction of a solid waste shed that does not exist. 'These are just the tip of the iceberg. A detailed investigation will expose more scams,' Sidhu said, urging chief minister Bhagwant Mann to initiate an impartial probe. Sidhu highlighted that Randhawa is already facing a vigilance case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with an FIR registered on March 5, 2025, for allegedly demanding a bribe from former Kurra village sarpanch Davinder Singh. Despite this, no departmental action has been taken, Sidhu alleged. He further accused the administration of retaliating against Davinder Singh by falsely implicating him in an illegal mining case, though he was later granted bail. Sidhu also pointed to a complaint filed by former DDPO Baljinder Singh Garewal against Randhawa, which was followed by Garewal's transfer instead of any action against the BDPO. Accusing Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh of shielding Randhawa and targeting opposition-aligned panchayat members, Sidhu demanded a thorough and independent investigation. In response, BDPO Randhawa dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. 'The ₹ 13 crore figure is exaggerated. I've been granted bail in the vigilance case and reinstated. As for the Kurra shed, I will get the matter investigated,' he said, adding he is open to a fair inquiry.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Former minister Balbir Sidhu levels financial irregularities allegations against Mohali BDPO
Former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has accused Mohali Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Dhanwant Singh Randhawa of serious financial irregularities and demanded his immediate suspension. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sidhu urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged scams. Sidhu alleged that Rs 13.32 lakh was sanctioned for the beautification and renovation of a pond in Bakarpur village, but no work was carried out. Similarly, Rs 1,72,406 was shown as spent on constructing a garbage shed in Kurda village, which, he claimed, does not even exist. 'The BDPO office has become a hub of financial scams and corruption. Randhawa is targeting opposition-aligned village heads under the protection of MLA Kulwant Singh,' Sidhu said. He further stated that Randhawa is already booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a case registered on March 5, yet no action has been taken. He also cited the example of former Sarpanch Davinder Singh, claiming he was falsely implicated in an illegal mining case, in which the court later granted anticipatory bail. 'Randhawa has a history of forgery cases, including those registered in Khanna, but no action has been taken because of political backing,' Sidhu added. He also revealed that Baljinder Singh Garewal, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), had submitted a complaint against Randhawa to the department on May 19, but instead of taking action, the department transferred the DDPO himself. The former minister further alleged that issuing utility certificates for panchayats involves rampant bribery under Randhawa's tenure. Present at the press conference were Harkesh Chand Sharma, Davinder Singh (ex-Sarpanch of Kurda), Hakam Singh, Gulzar Singh, and Gyan Singh, among others. When contacted for a response, Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh dismissed Sidhu's claims, saying, 'the former health minister is completely idle these days and has lost his mental balance'. 'Balbir Sidhu is a rejected politician who has been thoroughly disowned by the people of Mohali. These baseless allegations are just his way of trying to stay relevant in the news,' the MLA remarked.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Khanna police arrest two in fake documents scam.
Ludhiana: The Khanna police have arrested two accused involved in fake documents scam. The accused have been identified as Surjit Singh of Durgapur village in Nabha of Patiala, now in Azad Nagar, Khanna, and Mahima Singh of Khandoli village in Patiala district. According to the police, recoveries from the accused included nine forged Aadhar cards, one forged official stamp of naib tehsildar Bhado, a fake stamp of BDPO, one fake property valuation certificate, and one forged land deed. The SSP Khanna, Dr Jyoti Yadav, stated that on Tuesday, during patrolling near the main gate of police station city Khanna, police received a tip off that a group of individuals, including Surjit Singh, Mahima Singh, Harvinder Singh of Moga, Shamsher Khan, Rajvir Singh, and Harmit Singh (all residents of Bhado), were engaged in preparing and using forged documents to register land transactions fraudulently in various tehsils. She added that it was also revealed that Surjit Singh fabricated an official stamp of the naib tehsildar of Bhado. Police said acting swiftly on the information received, they apprehended Surjit Singh, who had come to Khanna Tehsil to "carry out" a fake registry. They added that a case was registered under the relevant sections of the IPC at police station city, Khanna, and a preliminary investigation was initiated. Meanwhile, the SSP Khanna suggested that during preliminary questioning of accused Surjit, he revealed that in a minimum of 20-22 cases, such fake documents were used to fill bail bonds for bail. The police said that efforts were ongoing to nab the other accused in the case.
