Book Arora over JCT land sale: SAD

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded a criminal case against Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora for causing a loss of Rs 400 crore to the state exchequer over the sale of 31 acres of prime land of the liquidated JCT Electronics in Mohali to a private realtor.

Asserting that such a huge scam was only possible with the concurrence of the Minister, senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said only a CBI inquiry or a probe monitored by the High Court could uncover the scandal which was an open and shut case of corruption. He said besides the Minister, senior officers who had committed criminal negligence should also be proceeded against immediately. He demanded Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh take the first step in arriving at the truth in the case by sacking Arora immediately.

Giving details, Majithia said the PSIEC did not stake claim to Rs 161 crore unearned profit which was to be paid to it upon sale of the property. He said the PSIEC agreed to sell the leased land at a reduced cost of Rs 90.56 crore of which the corporation would get only 50 per cent that is Rs 45 crore.