Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anindita Mitra has reversed the decision to reinstate two officials caught accepting a bribe by the CBI, following widespread criticism. The move to bring back the employees, who were seized with gold ornaments worth Rs 1.6 crore during the CBI investigation, faced opposition within the ruling BJP itself. Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra confirmed the reversal, stating, “Yes, I have revoked the earlier orders.” Chandigarh Mayor Anup Gupta applauded the decision, emphasizing that such practices would not be tolerated.
BJP’s Mahesh Inder Singh Sidhu, a vocal critic of the reinstatement, welcomed the decision, aligning it with Prime Minister Modi’s and the BJP’s stance of zero tolerance towards corruption. Sidhu expressed concern that reinstating the officials set a bad precedent and could encourage illegal activities. He questioned the initial issuance of the orders and stressed the importance of maintaining a strong stance against corruption.
Earlier in the week, Sidhu had strongly criticized the municipal corporation for reinstating the senior officials caught accepting bribes in August. He denounced the move as shameless and called for a departmental inquiry into the matter. Chandigarh Mayor Anup Gupta also voiced his displeasure, deeming it unacceptable and asserting that he would address the issue at appropriate levels.
Sidhu, a lawyer and former senior deputy mayor, insisted that only an inquiry could reveal the truth behind the decision. He suspected ulterior motives, suggesting that the move aimed to suppress the accused from exposing higher-ranking individuals involved. When the accused officials were arrested in August, Sidhu, along with other BJP councillors, questioned the morality of allowing the senior official to continue in the same post when implicated by the arrested personnel.
The case revolves around the CBI’s arrest of Chief Sanitary Inspector Chander Mohan and Health Supervisor Sandeep Kumar in August. The officials were apprehended for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to reinstate a suspended municipal corporation employee in Sector 17. The arrest occurred shortly after Mohan attended a meeting with civic health wing officials in Sector 17, with related documents discovered in his car just minutes before the arrest.
