The documents related to some properties have also been seized from the residence of former Congress minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
After raids that continued for over 18 hours in Ludhiana and Nawanshahr districts of Punjab related to multi-crore foodgrain transportation and labor cartage tenders scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made a total recovery of over Rs 5 crore including cash and bank deposits, confirmed a source from the agency.
The documents related to some properties have also been seized from the residence of former Congress minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
On Thursday, the ED sleuths raided the residence of ex-minister Ashu in Ludhiana, the main accused in the case and several other co-accused including contractor Telu Ram, Ashu’s aides Inderjit Indi, Pankaj Meenu Malhotra, Congress councillor Sunny Bhalla, commission agent Krishan Lal Dhotiwala, Anil Jain among others. Raid was also conducted at the residence of former Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairman and Congress leader Raman Balasubramanium, one of the accused in illegal plots allotment scam.
You have exhausted your
monthly limit of free stories.
To continue reading,
simply register or sign in
🌟 Unlock More with an Express Digital Subscription! 🌟 Dive deeper into the stories that matter. Now at a special price.
This premium article is free for now.
Register to read more free stories and access offers from partners.
🌟 Unlock More with an Express Digital Subscription! 🌟 Dive deeper into the stories that matter. Now at a special price.
This content is exclusive for our subscribers.
Subscribe now to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.
An ED source said that during the raids that concluded Friday, the agency recovered more than Rs 5 crore in cash and bank deposits from several suspects. “While major recovery in the form of cash and bank deposits have been made from some contractors and other suspects, property documents have been seized from ex-minister Ashu’s residence,” said the source. “Both the cases — foodgrain tenders scam and illegal sale of plots under LIT– were registered by Punjab Vigilance Bureau and now ED has started a money laundering probe under PMLA in these cases,” said the ED source.
Most Read
An official release from ED office in Jalandhar, issued Saturday, said: “The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has carried out search operations at 25 locations in Punjab on 24.08.2023 in Punjab Tender Scam case including residential premises of Bharat BhushanAshu, Ex- Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, Raman Balasubramanium, Ex-Chairman Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and their accomplices.”
The agency initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of FIRs registered by Vigilance Bureau of Ludhiana, under various sections of IPC 1860 and of PC Act, 1988 with respect to the Transportation and Labour cartage Policy 2021 of the Punjab Government, it said.
“It (Vigilance Bureau) is alleged that the tenders were allotted to contractors approached the Minister through Rakesh Kumar Singla, Chairman of CVC, Food and Civil Supplies. Through this favoritism, the allotee contractors got undue advantages causing loss to the Government exchequer. Further, FIRs related to LIT scam regarding allotment of plots to bogus persons was also taken into consideration for the purpose of search During the search operation, a total amount of Rs.4.81 Crore lying in multiple bank accounts of the searched persons, prima facie identified as proceeds of crime, were freezed. Further, 5 immovable properties worth Rs 1.54 Crore (approx) alongwith 4 bank lockers have also been freezed. Various incriminating documents, digital devices and Indian Currency of around Rupees 30 lakhs have also been seized from various premises. Further Investigation is under progress,” the release stated.
First published on: 26-08-2023 at 10:09 IST
0 Comments