ED seeks list of accused in 1,178-crore farm machinery scam in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Vishav Bharti

Chandigarh, June 23

Officials and others responsible for the Rs 1,178-crore crop residue management (CRM) machinery scam seem to be in for trouble. Sources said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought from the Director, Agriculture, a list of officials and private persons who are allegedly involved in the scam.

Also read: 34 farm machinery banks go ‘untraced’ in Bathinda 

Apart from that, the ED has sought details of any departmental inquiry conducted against officials.

The ED has also asked the department whether it or any individual had filed any FIR when the scam surfaced. Besides, the central agency has sought documents related to the scam under Section 54 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Director, Agriculture, Gurvinder Singh said the government had conducted an inquiry into the case, details of which would be provided to the ED.

Agri Director asked if probe was held

Sources said the ED has sought from the Director, Agriculture, details of any departmental inquiry conducted against officials.

The ED has also asked whe ther the department or any individual had filed an FIR when the scam surfaced

Director, Agriculture, Gurvinder Singh said the government had conducted an inquiry, details of which would be provided to the ED at the earliest

Significantly, while in office, former Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha in a letter to the Prime Minister blew the lid off the scam which took place under his own government.

He had demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Nabha had alleged Rs 1,178 crore was spent over the span of four years on the purchase of machinery to establish banks for CRM by the Centre. But no machinery banks could be traced on ground and the subsidy was allegedly embezzled.

Following that the ED started investigation into the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and sought record from the state Agriculture Department regarding the scam. In a letter written to Director, Agriculture, on June 14, the ED has pulled up agriculture officials

for not supplying the information as well.

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