Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann sacks his Health Minister Vijay Singla on graft charges

New Delhi: Within two months of assuming power, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann sacked the state health minister Vijay Singla on Tuesday on a corruption charge after receiving a complaint from a government officer over the minister demanding 1% commission in award of government tenders.

Mann followed the example set by his party president and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who had sacked his food and civil supplies minister Aseem Ahmed Khan on live television in 2015 on corruption charges and had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

Mann took the step against Singla after the chief minister's office received a complaint 10 days ago. A government official had complained that the minister was demanding 1% commission for awarding government contracts to certain private vendors. Mann personally assured the official that he would stand with him and that he need not fear any minister.


An operation was then executed with help from the official which clearly revealed that the minister and those close to him were demanding the commission. After call recordings and other evidence were collected, Mann took action and also warned officials that corruption will not be tolerated. Singla has been arrested by the anti-corruption branch of Punjab Police.

After the sacking, Mann issued a video message where he said he would not tolerate "even 1% corruption". "The people have voted for an AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) government with a lot of hope, we have to live up to it. As long as mother India has a son like Arvind Kejriwal and a soldier like Bhagwant Mann, the great war against corruption will continue," he said. Mann said Singla had admitted to the wrongdoings.

The decision to stem corruption came for high praise from Kejriwal, who conducted a digital press conference and congratulated Mann.