Chandigarh – The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today arrested Parveen Kumar, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator Forest ( PCCF) Wildlife, Punjab in case FIR no. 7 dated 6/6/2022 u/s 409,420,465,467,468,471, 120-B IPC & 7,7(A), 13(1), 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act registered at PS VB, Flying Squad-1. Further investigation is under process.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state Vigilance Bureau said during the ongoing investigation in the alleged organised corruption that remained prevalent in the Forest Dept. during last 5 years for giving choice postings, cutting of Khair trees, issuance of NOCs for commercial establishments, purchase of Treeguards worth crores of rupees and other activities incriminating oral, documentary and circumstantial evidences surfaced on record against Parveen Kumar, IFS, PCCF, on the basis of which he was nominated as accused in the present case.
He informed that Parveen Kumar, IFS has remained CEO, PunCAMPA and Nodal Officer of issuing NOCs in the Forest Department. Moreover, he was given charge of PCCF in October 2021, after Sangat Singh Gilzian became Forest Minister on 26/9/2021.
During preliminary investigations Parveen Kumar disclosed to the VB that Sangat Singh Gilzian told him that his opponent in Vidhan Sabha Election is a wealthy person having financial backup from USA and hence he is also in need of additional finances to contest elections. Further Minister pressurised him to arrange funds out of the funds of the Dept earmarked for various official activities.
Subsequently, Parveen Kumar hatched a conspiracy with Daljit Singh Gilzian, nephew of the Minister and introduced Daljit Gilzian and Vipul Sehgal to Vishal Chauhan, IFS, CF and told him to assist them as they will supply Treeguards to the Department without any tender/ quotations or from Gem portal as per Govt.’s rules.
Consequently, Crores of rupees were embezzled under the garb of purchase of Treeguards in association with other co-accused persons namely Nitin Bansal, Binder Singh, Sachin Mehta, Vipul Sehgal and Others.
The spokesperson further added that Moreover, Sangat Singh Gilzian and Parveen Kumar bypassed set norms to issue transfer orders of 23 executive field officials on 7/1/2022 i.e. one day prior to implementation of election code of conduct in Punjab after taking money from the beneficiaries.
He informed that Parveen Kumar has been taking illicit money in lieu of passing cases regarding NOCs of various commercial establishments in Punjab.
