Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has been summoned by the State Vigilance Department on Friday in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Addressing the media on the matter, Channi said that the agency has called him for questioning on a holiday and that he would be going there alone. He also said that he is ready if they kill him or send him to jail. He said he has been summoned on the day when the people are observing the festival of Vaisakhi and the father of the Indian constitution, Dr, BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary.
He said, "Vigilance has called me today. They were supposed to call me on 20th April but they called me today when all the offices are closed... I will go there alone, you can kill me, send me to jail, do whatever you want. They can kill me too but I am ready for that."
Channi said that he is gaining strength from the slain Saahebzades against the torture of the incumbent AAP government in Punjab.
Earlier, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau summoned former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for questioning in an alleged disproportionate assets case. The Congress leader was asked to appear at the Vigilance Bureau’s headquarters in Mohali on April 20.
This was the first instance where Channi was called for questioning in this case. The vigilance bureau had initiated an inquiry on November 18 last year. The bureau is investigating the allegations on Channi that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income.
On March 7, the Vigilance Bureau had issued a lookout circular against Channi to prevent him from flying abroad.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) Punjab government of using its last weapon, the vigilance bureau, as it faced a 'humiliating defeat' in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. He said that Channi has faced much bigger threats in the past than just a probe, he will come out stronger than before.
Warring took to Twitter to say, "Facing certain & humiliating defeat in Jalandhar by-poll @AAPPunjab chooses to resort to its last weapon, the vigilance bureau. @CHARANJITCHANNI has faced bigger threats than an enquiry & I am sure he will come out stronger."
The polling for the Jalandhar parliamentary seat is scheduled to take place on May 10 and the counting of the votes will be done on May 13.