Six Akali workers among nine booked in ₹11.6 crore scam

TARNTARAN:After the compilation of more than two years’ investigation into ₹11.59 crore food grain scam, Tarn Taran police have booked nine people on Saturday.

Accused are six Akali workers, among Bhikhiwind market committee’s vice-chairperson and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)’s former sarpanch. Police claimed to have arrested three persons as — Sukhdev Singh of Patti, Satnam Singh of Chhapa, Punjab Agro inspector Pawanpreet Singh. Key accused was booked in 2014 after scam came to light.

Others booked are Bhikhiwind market committee vicechairman Krishanpal Judge, former sarpanch Bhushan Kumar, his two sons; Neeraj Dhawan and Juggi Dhawan. Judge and Kumar belong to SAD.

The other two booked are Jaswant Rai, BS Randhawa, both district managers of Punjab Agro and Rakesh Raj Palta of Amritsar. BS Randahwa died in July.

DSP SS Mann said, “We had registered two different cases in the food grain scam in 2014. The cases were registered after physical verification of two godowns at Pahuwind and Manihala Jai Singh villages.” During check, 22,266 quintal food grain from Pahuwind godown and 39,715 quintal from Manihala Jai Singh were found missing.

“The missing food grain was worth ₹11.59 crore,” he added.

Inspector Pawanpreet Singh was in- charge of the godowns then. He was booked under Section 409 of the IPC. Pawanpreet had been absconding. His wife Sukhwinder Kaur had submitted an application to IG police.

In the application , she has alleged that more senior officers were involved in the scam. After her complaint, matter was given to Batala SSP Inderbir Singh.”

After probe, police booked the nine accused under different Sections 420, 465 , 467, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

Senior Congress leader from Khemkaran constituency Tejpreet Singh said, “It is just the tip of the iceberg. All the godowns of the district should be physically verified.”