Have come across another scam: Punjab Vigilance bureau

LUDHIANA: The Punjab vigilance bureau informed a court here on Monday that it might have stumbled upon another scam during its investigation into the transportation tender scam in which former Congress minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu is an accused.
The public prosecutor, Balwinder Singh, informed the court that the bureau wanted longer custody of Ashu to probe into the new alleged scam related to the procurement of wooden carters (used for storing grains) and tarpaulin sheets. Ashu was the Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister when the tender scam took place. The bureau sought five-day remand of accused, but the court extended it only by two days.
Rajiv Kaushal, Ashu's counsel, said the public prosecutor had mentioned that the bureau had come to know that the size of the carter and thickness of tarpaulin sheets was not as per standard.
The bureau said it came across another wrongdoing, of forged bills being allegedly furnished for about 150 sacks of food grains. As per records, the vehicle in which the 150 sacks were transported was a scooter.
In related news, the bureau also brought Telu Ram, the main accused who got the tender fraudulently, on a production warrant from jail. Though the bureau sought his custody, the accused was remanded only in judicial custody.
The public prosecutor said former district food and civil supplies controller Sukhwinder Singh Gill had stated that Ram had offered him Rs 2 lakh in cash and a mobile phone as bribe. However, he had refused to accept it. The bureau wanted to question Ram in front of Gill, the public prosecutor said.
Ashu's counsel said they had challenged the bureau's extension in the former minister's remand by saying that the it had not gotten any evidence even after eight days of arresting the Congress leader.
The bureau acknowledged before the court that dismissed deputy superintendent of police Balwinder Singh Sekhon was a witness in the transportation tender scam. Also, Ashu's aides Sunny Bhalla, mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, investor Hemant Sood and Ashu's chartered accountant Amit Kumar have sought time till Tuesday to submit details related to properties and investments.