Former Punjab Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, arrested in the transportation tender scam, was presented by Vigilance in the court around 4 pm on Tuesday. After arguments between the two sides, the court sent Ashu to Vigilance remand till August 27. Before then, Ashu was brought to the court in Ludhiana under heavy security. Congressmen are opposing his arrest calling it a political rivalry.
On Monday, Ashu was arrested while having his hair cut at the salon. After arrest, Ashu's health also deteriorated in the Vigilance office late in the night. First aid was also given to him. Gurpreet Singh had filed a complaint against Ashu to the State Vigilance that Ashu had rigged the tender distribution to benefit some of his friends.
In response to the complaint, Vigilance filed an FIR at Police Station in Ludhiana against Ashu under Sections 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and Sections 7, 8, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Telu Ram, Jagroop Singh, Sandeep Bhatia, as well as the owners/partners of Gurdas Ram & Co., are the contractors in this case. The contractor Telu ram is in police custody. Bharat Bhushan Ashu was named in the interrogation.
Telu Ram said that he had met Bharat Bhushan Ashu through his PA Meenu Malhotra to get the tender for the season 2020-21, who asked him to meet Rakesh Kumar Singla, Deputy Director Food and Civil Supplies. Singla, being the Chairman of the Departmental Chief Vigilance Committee for tenders, was in charge of entire Punjab and was acting on the instructions of the former minister.
Former minister Ajit Kohar's nephew Nirmal Singh dies; shot himself after a family feud
Singla demanded Rs 30 lakh on behalf of the former minister. After this, Telu Ram gave Rs 20 lakh to Singla, and Rs 6 lakh to Meenu Malhotra and other officials on different days. According to Vigilance, based on the above disclosures as well as the evidence, the said accused and Bharat Bhushan Ashu were named.
During the vigilance investigation, it has come to the fore that Telu Ram has bought about 20 acres of land during the past time and Meenu Malhotra has also made many properties. Records in this regard are being collected. Records related to the posting of Rakesh Kumar Singla are also being collected. The properties made by him will also be investigated.