Punjab Vigilance Bureau Arrests Former PUNSUP Manager Jagandeep Singh Dhillon in Multi-Crore Paddy Scam
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) made a significant arrest in connection with a multi-crore paddy scam, which has been making headlines across the state. Jagandeep Singh Dhillon, the former District Manager of the Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation (PUNSUP) in Ludhiana, who had been absconding, surrendered before a Ludhiana court on September 23, 2024, before being arrested by the Vigilance Bureau.
The case revolves around a large-scale scam involving the transportation of paddy across Ludhiana’s grain markets, with fraudulent tendering processes at the heart of the operation. The Vigilance Bureau has been investigating the case since 2022, when it first came to light, leading to the registration of FIR No. 11 on August 16, 2022, at the VB Police Station in Ludhiana Range. The charges are serious, with accusations under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 420 (cheating and dishonesty), and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Jagandeep Singh Dhillon had been on the run since July 2024, following the Supreme Court’s cancellation of his anticipatory bail. Dhillon had previously secured the bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 18, 2023. However, with the Supreme Court setting aside that decision on July 16, 2024, Dhillon had been evading law enforcement agencies, which eventually led to his suspension from the department.
The arrest has brought renewed focus on the larger corruption case, which has already implicated several high-profile individuals, including former Punjab Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The paddy scam centers on irregularities in the allocation of transportation tenders within Punjab’s Food and Civil Supplies Department, where contracts were reportedly awarded under dubious circumstances, resulting in significant financial losses to the state.
According to the Vigilance Bureau spokesperson, efforts to trace Dhillon had been ongoing for months, and his eventual surrender is seen as a breakthrough in the investigation. The Bureau is now expected to intensify its probe to uncover further details about the corruption network that extended into Punjab’s grain markets.
Dhillon’s arrest is part of a broader effort by Punjab’s government to crack down on corruption within the state’s departments, particularly in areas involving public procurement and distribution. The Vigilance Bureau has been at the forefront of these efforts, with this arrest being a significant development in its ongoing battle against systemic corruption.
The grain market scam is one of several large-scale frauds that have rocked Punjab in recent years. These cases have raised questions about governance and accountability in the handling of the state’s agricultural produce. With paddy being one of the most crucial crops in Punjab, any disruptions in its procurement and transportation can have wide-ranging effects on farmers and the economy. Thus, the arrest of a key player like Dhillon is viewed as a major step in bringing justice to the victims of these fraudulent practices.
As the investigation continues, it is expected that more arrests and revelations could emerge, further exposing the extent of the corruption within Punjab’s food distribution network. For now, Jagandeep Singh Dhillon remains in custody, with the Vigilance Bureau continuing its efforts to unravel the complexities of the scam and hold all responsible parties accountable.
