Punjab vigilance probing 16 complaints towards meals provides dept, Bharat Bhushan Ashu in line of fireplace

There are at the very least 16 extra complaints pertaining to alleged irregularities within the functioning of meals and civil provides division in the course of the Congress regime, which can be at present being investigated by the Punjab vigilance bureau.

Sources within the bureau revealed that many of the complaints are towards former meals and civil provides minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and if corroborated, it can spell extra bother for the ex-minister and different officers of the division.

These complaints had been obtained on the vigilance bureau’s district places of work in Ropar, Jalandhar, Ferozpur, Patiala, Bathinda and Ludhiana after the Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) authorities took over the reins in March. Ashu was arrested on Monday in a grievance obtained earlier at bureau’s Ludhiana workplace pertaining to irregularities involving transportation and cartage of meals grains procured.

Ashu was arrested after it was discovered {that a} contractor, Telu Ram, used vehicles, jeeps and scooters to move tons of meals grains. The minister’s function was corroborated in the middle of investigation, stated a vigilance officer. Telu Ram was arrested final week.

“If the info highlighted in these complaints are corroborated, a recent case will probably be registered,” stated a vigilance division officer on the request of anonymity.

A lot of the recent complaints pertain to rejection of tender functions of small contractors for transport and cartage on frivolous grounds, and handing over of those contracts to influential individuals near Ashu.

A complainant from Nawanshahr stated that he even apprehended registration of false case on the behest of the previous minister, then vigilance head of the division Rakesh Singla and ex-minister’s PA Meenu Malhotra. The meals division final week dismissed Singla pending a charge-sheet for taking Canadian PR whereas Meenu has been absconding.

In a peculiar form of grievance, a cashier of cooperative physique Kirat and building society restricted alleged that he utilized for a young for cartage with Pungrian – the meals division’s nodal company for procurement, which was rejected citing absence of Aadhar card. His subsequent enchantment was rejected twice for tangible causes.

Completely different complaints introduced on report present that tenders had been allotted about 71 to 117% increased than the precise value of the tenders. “Out tenders quoting the bottom charges had been rejected owing to political stress, and exorbitant charges had been allowed resulting in scams,” stated a complainant from Mohali. HT has the small print of all of the complaints.

A complainant from Ludhiana has requested the vigilance bureau to conduct investigations into demolition of his farm home at Ludhiana, suspecting that it was demolished on the behest of Ashu who needed to seize the property.