Chandigarh, May 12 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday demanded a high-level probe into the role of Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal, in allegedly facilitating corruption in the Vigilance office which was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday night.

Speaking to the media here, Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia questioned the manner in which the accused private people were allegedly aided in escaping trap operations by providing AK-47 wielding Punjab Police gunmen.

He claimed this was proved when accused Vikas Goel and Raghav Goel were arrested by the CBI near Ambala in the company of two armed gunmen.

Asking who approved official security for private middlemen, the Akali leader demanded a thorough enquiry into the political protection being provided to such elements, allegedly by CM Mann and Kejriwal.

Alleging that Mann and Kejriwal had destroyed all institutions by putting all posts on sale, Majithia claimed “now it has become mandatory for officers to tell how much money they will collect for AAP if posted at a particular post”.

He said, “The very fact that O.P. Rana, who is the OSD of DGP Vigilance Sharad Satya Chauhan, has been accused of demanding Rs 20 lakh to settle a probe and the fact that he took Rs 13 lakh, speaks of the open loot taking place in Punjab”.

He said the Vigilance department probed hundreds of complaints at one time and if this was the asking rate for settling a single complaint, one could only imagine the extent of corruption taking place in the department.

Majithia alleged that the Vigilance office “is being used as a money collection centre and the loot is going to the very top”.

Demanding a probe into corruption, Majithia said the scope of this probe should examine the illegal land deals facilitated by Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and the latter’s family members.

He also demanded a probe into the functioning of DGP Gaurav Yadav.

Majithia demanded a probe into the linkage between Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, who has been arrested on corruption charges, with Kejriwal.

He alleged that it was becoming clear that Arora was acting as a money collection and money laundering agent of the AAP and its top leadership.

“These linkages need to be established as AAP has, in its desperation, retained him as a minister so that he does not spill the beans against the Chief Minister and Kejriwal,” the SAD leader claimed.

Meanwhile, an official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said a private individual has been caught by the CBI, and the investigation is ongoing.

“If the name of anyone from the bureau arises, we will cooperate fully with the CBI and let the law take its course,” the bureau said in a statement.

–IANS

vg/rad