Will file defamation case against CM Mann: Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

A tweet war has broken out over Uttar Pradesh gangster and former member of the state’s Legislative politician Mukhtar Ansari’s stay in Punjab jails after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took to Twitter to state that the state government would not pay the Rs 55 lakh that was spent on the gangster’s “cosy stays” in jail. Chief Minister Mann caused a stir on social media as he added that the state would ‘recover’ this amount from Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Following CM Mann’s statement about the recovery of Rs 55 lakh spent on the lobbying of gangster-turned-politician Ansari, the Congress party also launched a scathing counterattack on the Aam Aadmi Party. Terming Bhagwant Mann’s claim a “lie”, former Deputy CM and then Jail Minister Randhawa said that this fee was not Rs 55 lakh, but Rs 17.60 lakh. He then questioned why the government wanted to “recover” a fee that was not even paid. Ansari was languishing in Ropar jail from January 2019 to April 2021 during the tenure of the previous Congress government. A recent inquiry report indicted some jail officials for extending “VIP facilities” to the gangster in jail. The report, however, did not indict any political leaders. Chief Minister Mann had indicated in April this year that the money would be recovered from the Ministers concerned who were responsible for Ansari’s stay in the Ropar jail. He had returned the file, seeking clearance to pay Advocate Dushyant Dave’s fee. On Sunday, the CM also tweeted that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday that the state government would not pay the lawyer whose services were hired to retain gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in jail. He added that the money will be recovered from former Chief Minister Singh, who was also the Home Minister, as well as former Jails Minister Randhawa.
In a tweet, Mann said the money that was spent to “live up to the friendship” would be recovered from the duo and if they failed to pay up then their pensions and other government benefits would be seized. The amount was to be paid to senior lawyer Dave for opposing the Uttar Pradesh government’s plea in the Supreme Court, seeking custody of Ansari during the Captain’s regime. Dave represented the Punjab government in the Supreme Court in 2021 when UP sought Ansari’s transfer from Punjab. Punjab had opposed the transfer even though the UP government sent 25 reminders to Punjab before getting Ansari’s custody through the apex court. The apex court had also noted that the custody was being denied to the Uttar Pradesh Police on trivial grounds under the guise of medical issues. Ansari was subsequently moved to a jail in Banda in Uttar Pradesh. After taking over the reins of the state, the AAP government ordered an inquiry into the case. Former jails minister Harjot Bains raised the issue in Vidhan Sabha.
ADGP R N Dhoke had recently submitted the inquiry report, which recommended proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act against some jail officials for allegedly taking bribes from Ansari in lieu of providing the facilities.
Randhawa on Monday said he would file a defamation case against the Punjab Chief Minister for allegedly indulging in his character assassination. He slammed Mann for accusing him of extending largesse to Ansari. “I will file a defamation case…. I will never tolerate humiliation,” the Congress leader told reporters. He also challenged the CM to issue a recovery notice to him with regard to the Ansari matter. At the same time, he quipped that governments do not run on Twitter. Randhawa said there are 16 DGPs in Punjab, but so far no regular DGP has been appointed.
In support of former Deputy CM Randhawa, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also lashed out at the Mann government in a press conference. Warring described the Mann government as a government of fame. Warring said that the AAP government used to make claims of drug smuggling from Punjab but it itself has completely failed in this matter. “The government of Advertisements has not been able to do anything. When the government fails on the issue of law, then they take up the issue of Ansari. The farmers are worried. Teachers are being beaten up. There was no new recruitment either.”