Dismissed deputy director declared proclaimed offender
LUDHIANA: The court of chief judicial magistrate Sumit Makkar declared Rakesh Kumar Singla, dismissed deputy director of food and civil supply department, one of the key accused in Rs 2,000 crore food grain transportation scam, as a proclaimed offender on Monday.
The vigilance has initiated a procedure to issue a red corner notice for the arrest of Singla, who is absconded and fled abroad reportedly. Singla was appointed as chairman CVC (Chief vigilance Committee) and given additional charge of inspection of wooden crates and Labour and Transportation Policy by the ex-minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu during his tenure.
According to the vigilance officials, Singla allegedly accepted Rs 20 lakh bribe from contractor Telu Ram, for allotment of tenders. A team of vigilance bureau had already made an assessment of his property. The vigilance bureau had already initiated proceedings against Pankaj Kumar alias Meenu Malhotra and Inderjit Singh alias Indi to declare them proclaimed offenders in the case. Inderjit Singh alias Indi had moved to the apex court seeking bail, but got no relief.
On August 16, the vigilance bureau had registered a case against the partners of Gurdas Ram and Company, officials of the state food and civil supplies department, and employees of concerned procurement agencies for allegedly committing irregularities in accepting labour, cartage and transportation tenders for grain markets in Ludhiana district. An FIR was registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467, 468 (both forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 120B (party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence) of the IPC and sections 7 (2), 8, 12 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the vigilance bureau police station in Ludhiana.
Partner of the firm Telu Ram was arrested by the vigilance bureau. Later, the vigilance bureau had nominated Ashu in the case. Ashu was arrested on August 22 from a salon in Ludhiana amid high drama.