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Bureau sources told the Press Trust of India in Chandigarh on Saturday that they have been compiling a list of the beneficiaries over Sidhu's five-year tenure. Sidhu was appointed to the constitutional post by the Congress government led by Harcharan Singh Brar in 1996.
Meanwhile, sources in the income-tax department told PTI that the investigation wing is following the case closely as huge amounts of cash have been recovered. The operation of bank accounts, including their opening, will also be scrutinised, they said.
Sidhu, who used to be a journalist with Chandigarh- and Chennai-based dailies, is alleged to have amassed assets worth almost Rs 90 crore. The combined value of cash and movable and immovable properties recovered so far has touched Rs 25 crore, with cash alone accounting for Rs 16 crore, including Rs 8.16 crore found in five lockers on Friday.
Vigilance sources said all appointments made during Sidhu's tenure are being checked to ascertain those who were said to have paid between Rs 500,000 and Rs 3.5 million.
Besides Sidhu, Jagman Singh, the man who operated the accounts and lockers of the PPSC chairman and his relatives, and Surinder Kaur Manchanda, wife of an alleged havala operator, have been arrested, Inspector General of Police (vigilance) A P Pandey said.
IGP Pandey said action against those who allegedly gave money to Sidhu or his associates would depend on the evidence that comes the way of the investigators. The money was allegedly paid for getting various jobs, including in the Punjab Civil Services, and as deputy superintendents of police, college teachers and tehsildars.
SP (vigilance) Jaskaran Singh said the cash recovered so far appeared to have come from aspirants for the post of deputy superintendent of police as the date of examination approximates the dates on bank slips on the packets of currency notes.
Bureau sources said more information, cash and assets would come to light after the arrests of four other associates of Sidhu, all of whom are absconding. They are Randhir Singh Gill, an officer in MARKFED based at Ludhiana, Prem Sagar, owner of a petrol filling station at Moga, Shamshir Singh, a veterinarian and resident of Panchkula, and Paramjit Singh Gill, a landowner.
The information about five lockers in a branch of the IndusInd Bank in Chandigarh came to light following the interrogation of Jagman Singh, from whose house Rs 1.28 crore was recovered early this week.
Bureau sources said it was surprising that the bank opened four accounts in the names of Sidhu's relatives almost simultaneously and accepted large amounts as deposits. It is not known whether the income-tax authorities have been informed of this yet.
Sidhu has denied the allegations against him, saying he had been implicated because he had failed to oblige some police officers by recruiting their sons. Sources close to Sidhu, who is lodged in the Patiala Central Jail, told PTI that he was still "waiting and watching". He has not yet decided to seek bail.
Bureau sources said they had come to know of some beneficiaries during Jagman Singh's interrogation, according to which prospective candidates studied question papers or even filled up the answer sheets at his residence in Chandigarh or at that of Sidhu's mother.
Jagman Singh told Vigilance Bureau interrogators that the question papers or answer sheets were provided by Sidhu himself. Singh also used to contact examiners for giving them the roll numbers of candidates who had tied up with Sidhu.
The dealings of those who benefited at the residences of Jagman Singh and Sidhu's mother would be investigated to ascertain whether the prospective candidates had made abnormal transactions in their accounts or those of their families, bureau sources said.
Income-tax department sources said they are ascertaining from the bank whether IT regulations on opening accounts and depositing money were followed. They said action would be taken against bank officials found guilty of not following guidelines, including those issued by the Reserve Bank of India on opening and operating accounts and lockers.
Vigilance bureau sources said Jagman Singh had also revealed the transfer of money abroad, including Rs 1 crore to Luxembourg.
PTI
EARLIER REPORTS: More money litters PPSC chairman's trail
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