VB attaches Rs 26-crore assets of ex-chief engg

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

Cracking the whip on the abuse of official power, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has attached 59 properties of former chief engineer of GMADA and Mandi Board Surinder Singh amounting to Rs 26 crore.

The action was taken as per the orders of a Mohali court under the provision of Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 1944.

ADGP-cum-Chief Director of Vigilance Bureau BK Uppal said during investigation, it came to light that Surinder Singh had registered three fake companies — M/s Access Agro seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Award Agro Seeds Pvt Ltd and M/s Auster Agro Traders Pvt Ltd — in the names of his wife and mother and made transactions of Rs 419.44 crore through banks.

He said these fake companies were created to siphon off the bribe money. “Surinder during his stint in GMADA had formed a fake construction company, namely Ek Onkar Builders and Construction Pvt Ltd, in which he had made directors of his own choice and allotted the tenders in illegal manner, thereby amassed ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs 419.44 crore.

Uppal revealed that Surinder had shown fake sale deeds in these companies whereas no such business existed actually. “During his tenure in GMADA and Punjab Mandi Board, the accused had formed above mentioned three fake firms and deposited ill-gotten money amounting to Rs 65.89 crore. Thereafter, he purchased various properties at Ludhiana, Ropar, Mohali and Chandigarh amounting to Rs 26.41 crore with this money acquired by dishonesty,” he added.