The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday mentioned that in its current raids in Punjab in reference to tender rip-off, it seized Rs 30 lakh in money and Rs 4.81 crore in a number of financial institution accounts and connected immovable properties price Rs 1.54 crore.
A couple of financial institution lockers had been additionally frozen, it added.
The raids had been carried out at 25 places belonging to Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the previous Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, Raman Balasubramanium, Ex-Chairman Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and their accomplices within the Punjab Tender Scam case.
Various incriminating paperwork, digital gadgets and 30 lakhs in Indian currencies had been seized from varied premises.
The ED initiated cash laundering investigation based mostly on FIRs registered by Vigilance Bureau of Ludhiana, below varied sections of IPC and of PC Act, with respect to the Transportation and Labour cartage Policy 2021 of the
Punjab authorities.
“It is alleged that the tenders had been allotted to contractors who approached the Minister by Rakesh Kumar Singla, Chairman of CVC, Food and Civil Supplies. Through this favoritism, the allottee contractors acquired undue benefits inflicting loss to the Government exchequer.
Further, FIRs associated to LIT rip-off concerning allotment of plots to bogus individuals had been additionally considered for the aim of search, ” mentioned the central company.
An in depth investigation into the matter is on.