On a complaint by one Bhupinder Singh, associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi -Dhirendra Rana, exercising powers under Section 156(3) CrPC, has directed SHO, Economic Offences Wing, Mandir Marg Police station, Delhi to register an FIR against Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other unknown persons for misuse of funds, fictitious bills and misuse of DSGMC funds for political purposes during the period when he was the General Secretary and Manjit Singh GK was the President of the DSGMC.

SENDING A COPY OF ITS ORDER BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND SEEKING COMPLIANCE RETURNABLE ON 21 NOVEMBER 2020, A DELHI COURT has ordered registration of a complaint -FIR against Manjinder Singh Sirsa and others in case number 66/2019 under sections 403/406/409/420/426/468/470/471 of IPC with the court noting that the police thus far has failed to investigate and file a complaint despite being given adequate time and opportunity.

Sirsa is alleged to have misused his position as General Secretary in the year 2013 and caused wrongful gain to himself and wrongful loss to DSGMC to the tune of INR 65,99,729, by clearing 3 invoices for the purchase of valuable glasses and giving it to beneficiaries as donations. In the Tent bills payment case, the complainant has annexed as many as 64 bills to substantiate his charges.

Will the police file an FIR against Manjinder Singh Sirsa before he takes remedial measures in a higher court of law for protection by hiring expensive lawyers at DSGMC expense?

It is also alleged that a large amount of DSGMC funds were spent on hoardings and refreshments for a political function of former BJP President of Delhi -Shri Manoj Tiwari. These funds were approved by Manjinder Singh Sirsa in his capacity as General Secretary of DSGMC.

In the inquiry, Satish Pruthi@Raja Pruthi the proprietor of Raja Tent House and M/s Rising Ball said his tent house did not have a service tax number and DSGMC refused to make payment. He then again sent Challans of M/s Rising Balls to claim payment and only 70 lakhs were received for a work of 2 crores.

It is also alleged that a large amount of DSGMC funds were spent on hoardings and refreshments for a political function of former BJP President of Delhi -Shri Manoj Tiwari. These funds were approved by Manjinder Singh Sirsa in his capacity as General Secretary of DSGMC.

It has also been stated in the order that, even though the status report was called, the preliminary inquiry was not completed by officials of Economic and Offence Wing despite several opportunities being given and the last report filed on behalf of police said no cognizable offence was made and the complaint was closed.

Questioning the manner in which the particular financial deal was handled by the DSGMC, the court order has asked pertinent questions, which focus on the inappropriate functioning of the DSGMC to brass.

The order of ACMM Dhirendra Rana seeks to know:

1. Whether any services were provided by the tent house?
2. Who prepared the unsigned bills?
3. Did the purchase committee of DSGMC approve the bills and in what circumstances were these bills unsigned bills approved?
4. Do the firms Raja Tent and Rising Ball exist? Are they registered with ROC and who are its Directors and what are their official addresses?
5. Whether any contact was given to Raja Tent House and Rising Ball prior to providing the alleged services?
6. Who was the beneficiary of the costly glasses?
7. In whose account payment through cheques were received and whether it was transferred to someone else’s account?

Speaking to a section of the media in Delhi, Manjinder Singh Sirsa has said that all approvals for the impugned bills were given by the then DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK and that he had only signed the cheques relating to the payments.

Will the police file an FIR against Manjinder Singh Sirsa before he takes remedial measures in a higher court of law for protection by hiring expensive lawyers at DSGMC expense? Will his party Shiromani Akali Dal stand up to him in his defence? As he continues to pander to the BJP, notwithstanding the divorce of his party from them, will the BJP protect him?

Undoubtedly, this case will have an impact on the electioneering of the Badal Akali Dal and especially of Manjinder Singh Sirsa and his supporters in the forthcoming DSGMC election, the process of which is underway.