The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday grilled former chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi at its state headquarters in Mohali for the third time for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
After the questioning that lasted for over three hours, Channi told the media that the AAP government has been raking up allegations of disproportionate assets against him after every 15 days as assets include two houses.
“The government is defaming the Opposition (Congress) on one pretext or the other. During the (assembly) election campaigning (Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial candidate) Bhagwant Mann had made false claims about my wealth of Rs 169 crore,” said Channi, the state’s first Dalit chief minister.
“If they have evidence, they should put me behind bars. Or they can order to shoot me,” he added.
The three-time legislator said he has contested every election from 2007 onwards after selling his property.
“I own two houses, two offices and a shop. If they have any other details of my assets, the government can get it confiscated,” Channi, who unsuccessfully contested the assembly election in 2022 from two seats, added.
The Vigilance Bureau has been probing the assets of Channi, his brothers, family members and some of his associates for amassing wealth more than their declared sources of income.
Earlier, Channi appeared before the investigating agency on June 14 and he was questioned for over five hours.
It has also been probing a complaint against Channi with allegations of diversion of funds from an official function for his son's marriage.
An RTI also revealed that Channi was the chief minister when he spent Rs 60 lakh as his food bill in a period of three months.
The Vigilance Bureau on March 7 had issued a lookout circular against Channi to prevent him from flying abroad.
Channi has been vocal in his criticism against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
In his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission in 2022, Channi declared immovable assets worth Rs 4.71 crore and moveable assets worth Rs 1.46 crore. Along with his wife’s assets worth Rs 3.27 crore, the couple has Rs 9.44-crore assets.
11 illegal migrants held in February in Dharmanagar and Agartala
As per NFR, in an incident on 15th February RPF team of Agartala conducted a routine drive at Agartala Railway Station. While checking they detected 02 female Bangladeshi national sat the station.
State aims to install 50,000 solar plants in 2025: Power Minister
The present state government has set an ambitious goal of installing 50,000 solar plants across the state during the current financial year, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Sunday.
Tension in Manipur districts after Meitei youth goes missing
A 20-year-old youth, belonging to the Meitei community has gone missing from Manipur’s Imphal triggering serious tension in both Imphal West and Imphal East districts, officials said on Monday night.
Vehicles burnt as violent clashes erupt in Nagpur, cops deployed
Amid raging controversy over the demolition of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave situated at Sambhajinagar, violent clashes broke out between two groups in Maharashtra’s second capital Nagpur which led to stone pelting and arson.
PM Modi joins Trump-owned 'Truth Social' platform after US President shares podcast link
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday joined US President Donald Trump-owned social media platform, Truth Social, following a post by the American leader. The post shared a video link of Prime Minister Modi's podcast with renowned US-based podcaster and computer scientist, Lex Fridman.
PM Modi meets Tulsi Gabbard, gifts her vase containing holy Ganga water from Maha Kumbh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard met in the national capital on Monday, exchanging not just pleasantries but also gifts in the form of Ganga Jal (holy Ganga water) and a handcrafted mala.
Won't allow glorification of Aurangzeb's legacy, says Maha CM Fadnavis
Amid the chorus for the demolition of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s grave situated in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that it was unfortunate that the state government has to protect it.
No ‘Neja Mela’ in Sambhal: Police ban event organised in memory of Masud Ghazi
The 'Neja Mela', which is held every year in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, in memory of Saiyyad Salar Masud Ghazi, will not take place this time. The police have made it clear to the organisers that they will not allow the event to take place in the name of ‘robbers’.