Chandigarh, April 29 -- The Punjab government has granted sanction to prosecute Madan Lal Jalalpur, former Congress MLA from Ghanaur in Patiala, in an alleged multi-crore panchayati raj fund scam, people familiar with the matter said.

Besides Jalalpur, the prosecution sanction against Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Dilwar Kaur has also been given.

"The speaker has given sanction, and we have forwarded it to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for further action", a senior government functionary added, requesting anonymity. Punjab Vidhan Sabha is the competent authority to grant prosecution sanction against any sitting and former MLAs.

A senior VB official, who didn't wish to be named, confirmed that the prosecution sanction has...