26 August,2023 02:34 PM IST | Ludhiana | mid-day online correspondent
Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Singh/ Pic/ X
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has undertaken raids against Bharat Bhushan Ashu, former Punjab minister and Congress leader, and several others. The central agency has seized assets and deposits worth more than â¹6 crore as of Saturday, August 26, a report in PTI stated. Ashu, a former minister of food and civil supplies in the Punjab government, is currently appointed as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
Launching the raids on August 24, the Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at 25 locations in Punjab. Apart from Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the searches also extended to Raman Balasubramanium, former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), and other individuals. These actions were carried out under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Notably, â¹4.81 crore, held in multiple bank accounts owned by the individuals under scrutiny, have been identified as proceeds of the alleged crime and subsequently frozen, PTI reported. Additionally, the ED seized five immovable properties valued at approximately â¹1.54 crore, along with four bank lockers. The searches also led to the confiscation of incriminating documents, digital devices, and Indian currency amounting to around â¹30 lakh.
This money laundering investigation stemmed from an FIR filed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The FIR is related to the state government's transportation and labour cartage policy of 2021. It also addressed complaints regarding an alleged "scam" within the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) concerning the allotment of plots to fictitious individuals.
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The ED further revealed that tenders were seemingly awarded to contractors who allegedly approached the then-minister, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, through Rakesh Kumar Singla, Chairman of CVC, Food and Civil Supplies. The alleged favoritism bestowed unfair advantages upon these contractors, leading to financial losses for the government.
Bharat Bhushan Ashu was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with foodgrain transportation scam. He was arrested on August 22, 2022 and was in jail until earlier this year. He was released after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in March, 2023.
Reportedly, the probe agency is also investigating the foodgrain transportation scam and have conducted raids in connection with the case on the ex-minister's residence and his aides.
