Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday demanded an independent probe into alleged corruption in the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB), following the CBI raid at the vigilance office on Monday night.
Addressing the media, Majithia also questioned the alleged use of Punjab Police security personnel by private individuals accused in the case. "Accused Vikas Goyal and Raghav Goyal were arrested by the CBI near Ambala in the company of two armed gunmen," he claimed.
The SAD leader asked who approved official security for "private middlemen" and demanded an inquiry into the alleged political protection extended to them.
Majithia alleged that O P Rana, OSD to vigilance bureau chief Sharad Satya Chauhan, had been accused of demanding Rs 20 lakh to settle a probe and allegedly accepting Rs 13 lakh.
"The very fact that O P Rana has been accused of demanding Rs 20 lakh to settle a probe and the fact that he took Rs 13 lakh speaks of the open loot taking place in Punjab," he said.
Claiming that the vigilance bureau handled hundreds of complaints, Majithia alleged the bureau had become a "money collection centre".
