Chandigarh: Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was on Friday questioned by Vigilance Bureau officials for seven hours in connection with the disproportionate assets case. Channi, however, termed the probe as ‘purely political’. Coming out of the Vigilance Bureau’s Mohali office, the former chief minister targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said the treatment by the Bhagwant Mann government was worse than that of the Mughals. He further said that the Punjab government wants to use all means to humiliate and defame.
Channi said, “In a democracy, this is not the way. Without any basis, they try to make a case. I stand by what I said in the morning press conference. Whatever they want to do, they can do.” ” “I have always worked with integrity and will continue to do so,” he said.
Bhagwant Mann’s government was involved in politics of revenge
Before entering the bureau’s Mohali office around 11 am, the Congress leader had targeted the state government over the extension of the date of appearance and claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s regime was indulging in “vendetta politics”. The bureau had initially asked Channi to appear on April 12 for questioning. However, he requested another date to join the probe, which the bureau granted and asked him to appear on April 20. Later, the Vigilance Bureau extended it till Friday.
The bureau is probing allegations of Channi amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. Last month, the bureau had issued a lookout circular against the former chief minister. When asked about being questioned in the matter before entering the bureau’s office, Channi dismissed the disproportionate assets claim and said, “The investigation is purely political. Let them do what they want.” whatever they want.”
Addressing a press conference before reaching the bureau’s office, Channi launched a scathing attack on the state’s AAP government and said he could be “tortured, arrested or even killed”. Might”, but he’s prepared to face it. The former chief minister burst into tears and said, “If even a single person says that Channi is involved in any corrupt practice, hang me.”
Channi said that he has raised some issues ahead of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. He alleged that the AAP government was cowed down by the questions raised by him, including questions related to Dalits, “what the chief minister said about the Akal Takht Jathedar”, justice in sacrilege cases and farmers’ issues . “And when one speaks the truth, it stings the one who lies – this is what happened with the AAP government,” he alleged.
(With PTI inputs)