Corruption scandal in Ludhiana municipal corporation: arrest of engineer sparks questions and investigations.

Ludhiana: The arrest of a senior municipal engineer has reignited concerns over rampant corruption in the city's civic administration, after an audio recording surfaced allegedly exposing a pay-to-play tendering racket.
The vigilance bureau on Friday arrested a superintending engineer (SE) from the bridges and roads branch of the Ludhiana municipal corporation. He is accused of demanding a 10% commission in exchange for allotting a tender for a public beautification project. The project, valued at ₹8.8 crore, involves upgrading Ludhiana's iconic Rose Garden. But a viral audio clip — reportedly between the SE and a contractor — has shifted attention from civic beautification to civic rot. In the clip, the engineer is heard saying he must "answer to Sahib" — a reference that has sent political circles into a frenzy over the identity of the unnamed superior.
Political Reactions
The term "Sahib" has become a political lightning rod. Former councillor Mamta Ashu took to social media, livestreaming from Rose Garden and demanding to know who the SE was referring to. Standing before the recently laid foundation stone, she asked if "Sahib" referred to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, or mayor Inderjit Kaur — whose names are inscribed on the plaque.
Ashu called for a thorough vigilance investigation into whether or not other officials in the municipal corporation were also complicit. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior member and former legislator Ranjit Singh Dhillon questioned the integrity of the civic body's tendering process. "How can officers strike deals with contractors openly? Tenders are supposed to be awarded on merit," he said. Dhillon alleges that the process has been "hacked" to favour those who offer higher commissions, resulting in substandard work. He said: "The vigilance department should disclose publicly who this ‘Sahib' is. If they don't, it'll be clear that the person is too powerful to be named under the current govt."
Project Freeze
The contractor who recorded the viral conversation has also filed a complaint in the Punjab and Haryana high court, which has since stayed the issuance of the work order. Ironically, the foundation stone for the project had been laid just a day prior to the court's intervention by MP Sanjeev Arora, who is also AAP's candidate for the Ludhiana West assembly seat.
‘Wider Corruption'
Former councillor and BJP member Parminder Mehta welcomed the arrest but called for a deeper investigation. "The vigilance bureau should investigate the SE's connections with other officials who may have shielded him, and examine his assets — both declared and hidden," Mehta said. He also claimed that the arrested engineer had been involved in fraudulent practices previously in the building branch of the civic body. He asserted: "If the SE's actions are investigated properly, many more corrupt officials embedded in the municipal system will be exposed."
What Happens Next?
The vigilance bureau has not yet named the so-called "Sahib," further fuelling speculation and pressure on the state govt. The incident has opened a broader conversation about the transparency and accountability of public officials in Punjab's civic institutions. As political leaders from across the spectrum demand answers, the people of Ludhiana are left wondering whether this is the beginning of a long-overdue cleanup — or just another case of scapegoating while the real power players remain untouched.
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