Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13

Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder on the alleged bungling in the JCT Electronics’ 31 acres land auction, the Punjab Lokpal has summoned Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora.

Bir Devinder had yesterday filed a complaint with the Lokpal, seeking a CBI probe into the controversial land auction. Talking to The Tribune, Bir Devinder said besides the minister, the Managing Director of PSIEC and Infotech, and Chief General Manager SP Singh, the official liquidator and the bidder were also being summoned. The controversy was highlighted in these columns in December last year.

Land auction row

Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora is facing heat over the

auction of 31 acres of JCT Ltd for Rs90 crore

Advocate General Atul Nanda had said the deal caused a loss of Rs125 crore to the state exchequer

Bir Devinder, who is the whistleblower in the case, had highlighted as to how 31 acres of prime JCT land was auctioned for Rs 90 crore, out of which Rs 45 crore was deposited. The Infotech has been all along pressing for unearned profit of Rs 125 crore.

“The objection and advice of some of the directors of PSIEC was kept aside, while only advice from private lawyer was obtained befitting the interest of the minister and key officials of PSIEC. This all was done when the curfew was imposed in March 2020, when no official activity and movement was allowed,” Bir Devinder claimed.

After failing to get scrutiny of the official documents in the land auction case, the Deputy Speaker filed a case with the Punjab Lokpal.