EX-AGRI JOINT DIRECTOR HELD

BATHINDA: The police have arrested former joint director of department of agriculture Nirankar Singh in connection with pesticide scam. Bathinda SSP Swapan Sharma said Nirankar Singh was arrested on Sunday night. He was sent to judicial custody by a Talwandi Sabo court on Monday.

Nirankar is accused of giving license to pesticide firms against norms. A case under sections 420 and 186 (for cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, Essential Commodities Act, Khaad Control Act and Insecticides Act 1968 was registered at the Rama police station against four accused, including Vijay Kumar, Shubham Goyal, both pesticide dealers, Ankush, a pesticide supplier, and former director agriculture Mangal Singh Sandhu, in September last year. They were later arrested.