Land scam: VB summons BJP leader’s son

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, July 13

The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has summoned senior BJP leader Tikshan Sud’s son Jived Sud in the Hoshiarpur land acquisition scam.

Jived and his partner Akhil Sud have been told to appear on Monday regarding transactions to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore, credited to the account of their firm, SS Engineering.

Vigilance SSP Sareen Kumar said, “Another suspect, Anju Gupta, has been told to appear tomorrow. She had received Rs 4.5 crore for land acquisition.”

One of the main accused, Prateek Gupta, had been detained by immigration officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on July 3 when he was trying to go abroad.

More than Rs 15 crore were made by Prateek in lieu of land acquisition for four-laning of the National Highway. He had transferred the amount to various accounts, including those of his father’s firms. He had credited sums of Rs 1.75 crore and Rs 75 lakh to SS Engineering.

RTI activist Rajeev Vashisht, who had exposed the scam, said, “Prateek opened an account with a bank in Hoshiarpur and the whole amount received against land acquisition was credited into it. The account remained operational for only 24 days.”