Punjab government transfers Pearl Group Scam investigation to Vigilance Bureau
Chandigarh, May 21: In a recent development, the Punjab government has decided to transfer the investigation of the Pearl Group chit fund fraud to the Vigilance Bureau. The decision comes in light of the government's contemplation of a new strategy to address the Pearl scam, as expressed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
According to the government order, the Vigilance Bureau will now take charge of the FIRs related to the scam that were registered in Ferozepur. This includes FIR no. 79 of 2020 filed at Police Station Zira and FIR no. 1 of 2023 at State Crime Police Station, SAS Nagar.
The government's statement emphasized that the Punjab Vigilance Bureau is an independent and specialised agency equipped with a dedicated Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to investigate complex economic offenses.
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Recognising the intricate nature of the investigations required for the Pearl Scam, along with its interstate implications, the decision was made to transfer the case to the Vigilance Bureau.
This move aims to ensure a fair and transparent investigation process that uncovers the entirety of the Pearl Scam. It further asserted that no individuals involved in the scam would be spared, and all available evidence would be documented. Additionally, the Vigilance Bureau, in coordination with the Lodha Committee established by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, will strive to facilitate the return of investments to the maximum number of duped investors.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had recently expressed the government's intention to devise a new strategy to effectively handle the Pearl scam, with the primary objective of ensuring the restitution of the defrauded investors' funds. This decision to transfer the investigation to the Vigilance Bureau represents a step in that direction.
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- With inputs from agencies
