DSGMC suspends Sarna's aide

Following reports of multi-crore bungling of funds of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the committee has suspended general manager Ram Singh (55).

Ram Singh joined the DSGMC as a clerk and came close to Paramjit Singh Sarna when the latter took over as the committee president for the first time in 2000. For the past few years, he had been looking after DSGMC affairs.

A three-member inquiry panel, comprising DSGMC members MPS Chadha, Gurinder Pal Singh and retired bureaucrat Mohinder Singh, has been constituted to probe the matter. No deadline has been given to the panel for submitting the report.

Sources in the DSGMC said Ram Singh transferred lakhs of rupees into his personal account by making fake entries in vouchers.

Manjit Singh GK, who took over as the DSGMC president in February, along with general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, signed Ram Singh's suspension order, dated March 28.

Talking to Hindustan Times, GK blamed Ram Singh for the financial chaos in the committee.
He stated that after the announcement for the DSGMC elections on December 31, 2012, and till the new committee took over on February 26, there was frivolous expenditure running into crores of rupees, for which the general manager had been held responsible. "During the elections, crores of rupees were apparently spent on printing, langar, shamianas and media advertisements. This is simply unbelievable," GK added.

Ram Singh also faces allegations of taking away documents pertaining to Guru Harkrishan Hospital on the premises of Gurdwara Bala Sahib and the under-construction parking at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib. The Sarna camp had also claimed that the documents were in his possession.

Despite repeated attempts, Ram Singh could not be contacted for comment.