Civil Supplies Deputy Director declared PO

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 6

Accused Rakesh Kumar Singla, Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies, has been declared a proclaimed offender (PO) by the Nawanshahr Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in a case related to allotting labour and transportation contracts of food grains in grain markets of the district.

A Vigilance Bureau (VB) spokesperson said an FIR No. 18, dated September 22, 2022, under Sections 7, 8, 12 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC had already been registered at the VB police station, Jalandhar range, against seven accused along with RK Singla, former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and contractors.

He further said the accused in connivance with the former minister and department officers/officials had awarded tenders to contractors at higher costs after taking bribes. During investigation, it had also came to light that contractors had submitted forged fake documents pertaining to registration numbers of vehicles like tractors, harvesters, combines and two wheelers for transportation of food grains from mandis to godowns, he said.

The spokesperson said among the seven accused in the case, chargesheet (Challan) of contractor Tellu Ram, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and his PA Meenu Malhotra had been presented in the competent court.

Accused Rakesh Bhaskar, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, had passed away during trial. During the trial, said accused RK Singla failed to appear before the court and was declared a proclaimed offender. Another supplementary chargesheet against Singla along with accused contractors Ajay Pal and Yash Pal would be presented in the court shortly.

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