Six suspended in ₹80cr improvement trust scam
FRAUD Local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu says third party audit is the only way out
AMRITSAR: Revealing about ₹80 cr ore worth scam in the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said, a case has been registered against seven persons including six AIT employees.
Sidhu said this while addressing the media here on Sunday. Sid hus aid ,“A preliminary probe in this case has indicated that some Amritsar Improvement Trust employees have embezzled money by opening several accounts in the name of the trust and transferred government money.”
Sidhu was accompanied by Amritsar deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Sangha and police commissioner SS S riva sta va. He said that a case has been registered against executive officer (EO) Arvind Sharma, EO DC Garg,E OP aramj it Singh, deputy controller and finance auditor Daman Bhalla, accountant Tina Vohra, clerk Satnam Singh and they have been suspended. A case has also been registered against chartered accountant Sanjay Kapoor.
A case has been registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 409, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 7,13(1),13(1) A, B,C,D of The Prevention of Corruption Act, PC Act at the Civil Lines police station.
Sidhu said, “This scam is still unfolding and with police investigation, more revelations will be made are likely to appear.”
He said, “As per information, the embezzlement started in 2014 and nobody from the previous state government looked into it.”
“We exposed the scam and got the case registered as Congress wants to ensure clean governance.”
It is just the tip of iceberg, he said. Sidhu said, “Third party audit is the only way out. Regular checking of accounts in all the departments will not only save the government money but also help in nailing the black sheep siphoning off the money fraudulently.”
He indirectly targeted the Bad al regime and said that many irregularities were done during that time.
‘CONGTOCONTESTON DEVELOPMENT PLANK’
Sid hus aid ,“The municipal corporation polls will most probably be held in December.”
“We will contest based on development agenda,” the local bodies minister said.
He said that the delay was due to the wards being increased in each city.
“There were 65 wards in Amritsar which have been increased to 85. Polls will be held after the requisite procedures are over,” Sidhu said.