Former chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Ravi Sidhu’s generosity had reached the Congress too.Documents in possession of The Indian Express show that Sidhu and another member of the Punjab Public Service Commission awarded 75 out of 75 to Raghumit Singh Sodhi, son of Congress MLA Rana Sodhi, in the interview for the post of district superintendent of police.The interviews were held on four days and they concluded on January 2, 2002. This was the time when campaigning was at its peak and a new Congress government was being predicted by pollsters.Had the members awarded even one mark less, Sodhi would have failed to make the final list of eight. The selection of DSPs was later quashed. Sodhi Sr, an MLA from Guru Harsahai, is now Captain Amarinder Singh’s political secretary.Amardeep Singh, the son of Kala Singh Dhillon, the cook of Parkash Singh Badal, was also selected. So was Gurjeet Singh, son of former SSP, Gurcharan Singh Pherurai. The Congress government had showcased these cases as proof of how the selection process was subverted to help politicians.Sodhi said he was not aware of the fact that his son had been awarded 75 marks out of 75 in the interview. He said he did not even know that his son was on the final list. Sodhi dismissed the idea that he used his political clout to influence the selection stating that ‘‘it was the Congress which made the PPSC an election issue.’’ ‘‘Had I paid money or even influenced the selection, my son would have been appointed for some post,’’ Sodhi said. Sodhi added: ‘‘My son is brilliant and intelligent, he topped the 12th standard in Sanawar and he is a silver medallist in MBA exams.’’The Vigilance department has now proceeded against Pherurai for alleged payment of Rs 2.8 crore for selection as DSP. Four out of eight selections are being cited by the Vigilance as cases of corruption against Ravi Sidhu.
