Balbir Sidhu demands immediate suspension and probe against Mohali BDPO Randhawa

Accuses BDPO of fraud, bribery and political vendetta

Nabaz-e-Punjab, Mohali, 1 July 2025:
Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately suspend the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Mohali, Dhanwant Singh Randhawa, and initiate a fair and impartial investigation into serious allegations of financial irregularities and corruption.
Speaking to the media today, Mr. Sidhu revealed that Randhawa sanctioned a payment of Rs. 13 Lakh 32 thousand to Meticulous Enterprises for cleaning, beautification, and renovation of the village pond in Bakarpur, despite the fact that no such work was ever executed. Similarly, in village Kurra, an amount of Rs.1.72 lakh was withdrawn from the Panchayat account for constructing a shed for solid waste disposal, but no shed exists even today.
Mr. Sidhu further stated that these are just tip of the iceberg, and a deeper probe will expose many more such scams. He added that Randhawa is also facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a case FIR No. 4 dated March 5, 2025 registered at the Mohali Vigilance Police Station for allegedly demanding bribes from Davinder Singh, former Sarpanch of Kurra. However, no action has been taken so far.
Instead, according to Mr. Sidhu, a false case of illegal mining was registered against Davinder Singh at Mohali’s IT Police Station on June 3, apparently at Randhawa’s behest, but the local court granted him anticipatory bail. Before the next hearing, the SHO added sections 409 and 7 & 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, but even this move was quashed by the Hon’ble Court on June 24, 2025, which granted Davinder Singh regular bail, taking serious note of the SHO’s overreach.
Mr. Sidhu called Randhawa a “habitually corrupt and criminal-minded officer,” pointing out that he is also an accused in an earlier FIR No. 168 dated September 15, 2023 registered at Khanna Sadar Police Station under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, and 166-A for forgery and making fake documents. That case is still under trial.
The former minister also disclosed that Baljinder Singh Garewal, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) of Mohali, had filed a complaint on May 19, 2025, with the department secretary, seeking action against Randhawa for not following government instructions. Shockingly, instead of acting against Randhawa, the department transferred the DDPO himself.
Mr. Sidhu alleged that Randhawa acts as a stooge of Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh, who is allegedly protecting him while he harasses opposition-affiliated Panchayat members by trapping them in false cases. He added that BDPO Randhawa routinely demands bribes for issuing “utilization certificates” for completed Panchayat works. BDPO Randhawa summons Panchayat records and keeps in his personal custody for a long time only to put hurdles in operations of the Panchyats affiliated to opposite parties, he added.
Sidhu demanded that this corrupt officer, backed by political influence, be immediately suspended and investigated so that the Chief Minister can fulfill his promise of running a transparent and just government in Punjab.

During this, senior Congress leader and former Chairman Market Committee Kharar Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, Davinder Singh former Sarpanch village Kurra, Hakam Singh Kurra, Gulzar Singh Kurra, Gian Singh Kurra, Davinder Singh Bakarpur were present
BDPO Dhanwant Singh Randhawa termed all the allegations leveled against him by former minister Balbir Sidhu as completely baseless and a bundle of lies and said that as far as the vigilance case against him is concerned, he has been granted bail by the court and he is now on duty. The BDPO said that in February, he had given the investigation report against former Sarpanch Davinder Singh of village Kurra to the higher authorities. After this, former Sarpanch Davinder Singh had filed a false case against him on the charge of accepting bribe. Randhawa said that on the basis of his investigation report, a case has been registered against former Sarpanch Davinder Singh and the law is taking its course. Regarding the payments for development works in village Bakarpur, BDPO Randhawa said that these payments are made by the Panchayat. If any work has not been done, it will be investigated. Regarding the complaint filed against him by the BDPO, he said that the department has already conducted an investigation in this matter. He said that the allegations of corruption and political favouritism levelled by Balbir Sidhu against the opponents are completely fabricated. He said that the former minister is trying to make him a pawn in his political fight.