Amritsar Improvement Trust ex-chief Dinesh Bassi's remand extended by two days
Chandigarh, July 11
The police remand of former chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), Dinesh Bassi, was extended by two days. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Monday claimed that the former AIT chairman misused his position in the allotment of tenders for development works in the city and that of Verka milk booths.
The Bureau in a statement said during probe, several evidences of alleged connivance of officers/ employees of AIT, in commercial/ residential plots allotted to various people and missing files of various plots etc. from the Trust office were also found.
As per the investigation so far, Bassi issued tenders for development works worth Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore during his tenure as the chairman.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Bassi had undertaken development work of the community hall, New Amritsar; Ram Talai Mandir GT Road Amritsar; Vallah Stadium at Verka; 7 Acres Park at New Amritsar; an under bridge at Jora Phatak Amritsar’ Truck stand scheme and Smart Government School, Chheharta, from 2019 to 2021. Records of these works were being procured to investigate the irregularities thoroughly.
It said Bassi had enlisted around 37 firms and after looking into the records, it was found that these firms were registered as contractors against the instructions and rules issued by the government and without obtaining the required documents from these firms.
The accused, Dinesh Bassi, had also allotted Verka milk booths to his close associates/relatives, for giving them financial benefit, in posh areas of Amritsar city in violation of departmental rules, it said.
