Sports Whistle Blower Iqbal Singh Sandhu exposed Multi Crores of Rupees DBT Sports Kits Purchase Scam in Punjab Sports Department.

(SUBHEAD) Jalandhar: Noted sports whistleblower Iqbal Singh Sandhu has busted the multi-crore Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) sports kit purchase scam in Punjab Sports Department held within the 111 days of Channi Government.

Iqbal Singh Sandhu, who had been the General Secretary of prominent Surjeet Hockey Society for 38 years, issued a press release on this occasion, disclosing the information about the sports kit purchase scam and said that on 16 December 2021, being sports whistleblower via various Newspapers, social media and officers of Sports Department and Sports Minister Olympian Pargat Singh were informed in advance through email and WhatsApp when Sukhvir Singh, Director (Training) in Sports Department, known as the kingpin of the sports mafia, a Crores of rupees sports kit purchase scam was being hatched by Grewal. Punjab Sports Department not taking cognizance of this, the working style of Sports Department shows doubtful.

According to Sandhu, after sand, drug, liquor, transport, cable, and land mafia in Punjab, within 111 days of Channi government, a new entry has been made in the name of 'Khed Mafia', the credit of which goes to Punjab Sports Department.

Disclosing this further, former PCS officer Sandhu said that according to sources, the Sports Department had a budget of Rs 3.33 crore for the purchase of 11000 sports kits at the rate of Rs. 3,000 each player in Punjab, but due to the fear of early introduction of code of conduct under the Vidhan Sabha elections and less time for the tender process., The Sports Department implemented the Government's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for the purchase of kits. It was decided to transfer ₹ 3,000 per player directly to their bank account so that they can buy sports kits of their own choice and own level. For this purpose, a Google Sheet was prepared and uploaded by the Sports Department and each player was given bank details along with his complete data through his coach.

Former Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ludhiana Iqbal Singh Sandhu further explained about the scam that in fact the good role of collecting the data and doing direct bank transfer of money was played by the well-known director of sports department Parminderpal Singh but after this scam. Mastermind Sukhveer Singh Grewal, Director (Training), who had already done rates and Commission with sports kit manufacturing firms, had issued instructions to the coaches through District Sports Officers across Punjab State that the day, ₹ 3,000 per player would be transferred into the player's bank account, the next day all the coaches shall get back ₹ 3,000 per player in the shape of the bank draft or cheque in the name such firm as directed by Mr. Grewal and the firm will supply the sports kits to players later on.

Sports whistle blower Sandhu further said that the players who were not issued bank cheque books till then, the coach was advised that they can take their parents' cheque in the name of such firm.

Sandhu further said that being a sports whistleblower, the poor parents of players also told me that they first spoiled their 2-2 daily wage days and opened a bank account with 500-500 rupees and spent about 100 rupees by spoiling another daily wage for making bank draft in the name of such firm. After making a bank draft of ₹ 3,000 and on the contrary, he got a sports kit worth about ₹ 1500 whereas the 3 daily wages got spoiled separately and the cost of making the draft had to be paid separately.

Sandhu has uploaded a link named DBT on his personal website www.iqbalpcs.in to prove this multi-crore sports kit scam, in which data of about 6212 players/parents including names, mobile numbers, etc. have been uploaded. He said, after clicking on DBT link, you can download the list and confirm the scam by talking to the player or his parents directly on his mobile.

Sandhu appealed to the people of Punjab and especially the people of the constituency of Sports Minister, Punjab Olympian Pargat Singh to use the above link to expose the masterminds of the sports mafia and those who provided them shelter. Make a mobile call from your mobile to any player and parent and ask yourself if ₹3,000 was credited to their bank account to buy the sports kit? Did you make a cheque/draft in the name of the firm as per the instructions of your coach and give it to the coach sahib? Has the firm giving you the entire item? You can expose yourself to this crores scam.

It is worth mentioning that in Jalandhar alone, about 77 cheques have been failed and the coaches concerned who has become very pathetic because in case of check failure, the responsibility of paying the amount to the firm has also been fixed on them

Sandhu further said that the mastermind of this scam Sukhveer Singh Grewal, Director (Training) is the same person who held this post till the year 2018 and he was found guilty of financial scams and irregularities worth crores of rupees. Sports Minister Olympian Pargat Singh has re-appointed him as Director (Training) at the age of 69, in violation of all the rules and regulations, in the same post


Sports Whistle Blower Sandhu has finally appealed to the Governor of Punjab and the Chief Secretary, Punjab to investigate the scam by constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the multi-crore DBT Sports Kit purchase scam, the first of its kind in Punjab. Seeking to make this scam public immediately, he has also appealed to take immediate action against all the persons involved in this scam. He also appealed that Sukhvir Singh Grewal, Director Training should be suspended immediately so that he does not affect the investigation.

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