Multicrore irrigation scam: Accused contractor surrenders

SC had upheld high court decision to deny anticipatory bail

THE VIGILANCE HAD INITIATED AN INQUIRY IN A NUMBER OF WORKS ALLOTTED TO GURINDER THROUGH ETENDERS IN THE DEPARTMENT

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) on Wednesday secured custody of contractor Gurinder Singh, who is the main accused in the multi-crore irrigation scam after he surrendered in a court in Mohali.

The Supreme Court, while upholding a ruling of Punjab and Haryana high court to decline anticipatory bail to Gurinder, had rejected his bail plea on December 7 and directed him to surrender within one week to join the ongoing investigations. After his surrender, the Mohali court remanded him in vigilance custody till December 16.

The VB had initiated an inquiry in a number of works allotted to Gurinder through e-tenders by the irrigation department. The VB found that Gurinder Singh & Company, a firm owned by Gurinder, was favoured by engineers of the department, who allotted him more than 60% of total works by cost, in violation of rules in collusion with him.

During investigations, the VB found that works were allotted to Gurinder’s firm at higher rates by way of single tenders, facilitated by tailor-made conditions and clubbing of works.

During scrutiny, it was found that the annual turnover of Gurinder’s company shot up from ₹ 4.5 cr to around ₹300 crore within no time. The VB had already registered a case to probe into the irregularities and corruption charges levelled against Gurinder and others in allotment of tenders under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station in Mohali.

The bureau also booked Gulshan Nagpal, executive engineer (XEN); Paramjit Singh Ghuman, chief engineer (retired); Bajrang Lal Singla, XEN; Harvinder Singh, chief engineer (retired); Kaminder Singh Deol, SDO (retired); Gurdev Singh Sian, chief engineer (rtd); and Vimal Kumar Sharma, supervisor.