Excise revenue loss: Partap Singh Bajwa seeks probe by high court judge

JALANDHAR: Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday pegged Punjab excise department’s losses for the past three years at Rs 2,700 crore, demanding a probe either by the CBI or a sitting judge of the high court into the loss of revenue.
He said he would submit proofs and information about the persons involved in the alleged scam of excise losses if such probes took place. “The issue does not settle with just a few ministers saying their differences with the chief secretary have been resolved. MLAs’ allegations of losses in the excise department have not yet been contradicted. If there is nothing to hide, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh should order a probe by the CBI or a high court judge,” Bajwa told TOI.
He said if the CM was apprehensive of CBI targetting him at the behest of the Union government, he could give the probe to a high court judge. “It should be a timebound probe. I will also submit all information with me as I am privy to a lot of information about this scandal as whistleblowers have apprised me about things. I have also gathered it from different sources. I can divulge it on an appropriate forum,” he said, adding that no state agency coud hold a fair probe as CM was minister of excise department and chief secretary handled it as secretary.
Bajwa, a bête noire of Amarinder, said his assessment of loss was based on finance department data. “State government is manipulating figures to mislead people,” he said.
When pointed out that Congress MLAs who raised the issue were now silent, Bajwa said the MLAs felt ministers took them for a rid and they backed off after the CM silenced ministers. “The calm in state Congress is temporary. It will brew again as nothing is improving. MLAs are facing heat over the government’s performance,” Bajwa said.