CHANDIGARH: Reaffirming the zero-tolerance policy against corruption, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is taking strict and exemplary action against corrupt officials in the Finance Department, regardless of their rank or position. He said the government is fully committed to transparent, accountable and clean governance.
Sharing details, Cheema said that in mid-2022, corruption complaints were received against four employees posted in the Treasury and Accounts Branch and various District Treasury Offices. All four officials were immediately suspended and the matter was handed over to the Vigilance Bureau for investigation. Following a detailed departmental inquiry, decisive action was taken in December 2025, leading to the dismissal of one Superintendent Grade-2 officer, while the remaining three employees were given major punishments as per service rules. An FIR was also registered, and the dismissed officer was arrested on January 11, 2026. The court has granted police remand for further investigation.
The Finance Minister further revealed that scrutiny of bank accounts of the accused employees exposed suspicious transactions involving 22 other officers and employees. To ensure fairness, the probe was conducted by a retired judge, following which departmental action has been initiated against all 22 officials. Cheema said these actions send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated and that the Mann Government will continue to act firmly to build a trustworthy and transparent administrative system in Punjab.
