LUDHIANA: In just six years of becoming the sarpanch of Payal area s Rano village, Gurdeep Singh built assets that exceed Rs 50 crore. Before the election, his family lived hand to mouth.
The special task force (STF) against drugs says it s looking into how the lowly paid insurance agent, who had only 6 acres, an old-model scooter, and a small business of used cars, became the richest, most influential man of his village after one unopposed election. When arrested with three accomplices on November 7, the now ex-sarpanch had Rs 21 lakh unaccounted-for cash, eight high-end cars, an SUV, some heroin, and illegal guns and ammunition.