Punjab Vigilance Targets Ex-Akali Leader’s Home After BJP Switch
Vigilance raids Gill post-BJP move!
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) conducted a high-profile raid on the Chandigarh residence of prominent realtor and former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Ranjit Singh Gill on Saturday, just hours after his induction into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The timing of the raid has sparked allegations of political vendetta from BJP leaders, intensifying tensions in Punjab’s volatile political landscape.
Gill, who resigned from SAD on July 18, citing the marginalization of loyal workers and the party’s drift from its core values, joined the BJP on Friday evening at the official residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. A well-known figure in Kharar for his social service and as the owner of Gillco Group, which develops residential, commercial, and educational projects in Mohali, Gill expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies and vowed to contribute to Punjab’s progress through the BJP.
The VB’s raid, which sources confirm targeted Gill’s home, lacks official details, fueling speculation about its motives. BJP leader Subhash Sharma condemned the action, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of using the Vigilance Bureau as a “political weapon.” “This raid reeks of vindictive politics, aimed at silencing new BJP members,” Sharma told a news channel, questioning the absence of senior Punjab BJP leaders at Gill’s induction.
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Gill, once a close aide of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, contested the Kharar Assembly seat in 2017 and 2022 but faced defeat. His exit from SAD and swift alignment with the BJP signal a strategic shift ahead of Punjab’s 2027 elections. Haryana CM Saini, welcoming Gill, emphasized his popularity in Kharar and promised him a significant role in the BJP’s development agenda.
The raid has reignited debates over the misuse of investigative agencies in Punjab, with the BJP alleging that AAP is targeting political opponents to suppress dissent. As the investigation unfolds, Gill’s case could further polarize Punjab’s political arena, raising questions about the timing and intent behind the Vigilance Bureau’s actions.
