Former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu moves HC, seeks fair probe

Chandigarh, June 13

Former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to Punjab and other respondents to conduct fair and proper inquiry, grant opportunity of hearing and not to take any coercive steps till the conclusion of an inquiry in a “frivolous complaint/representation”.

The complaint, he alleged, was furnished by Gurpreet Singh and other “unsuccessful contractors, who were ineligible to participate in “e-tender process of Punjab Government during 2018 to 2022”. They were now trying to wreak vengeance, harass and malign his reputation, the petition added.

Directions were also sought to the respondents not to arrest the petitioner or take coercive steps against him in case an FIR was registered pursuant to the complaint, unless prior advance notice of at least seven days was given to him.

He contended the process of e-tender, under a new policy for procurement of foodgrains, was online and transparent, and he had no role to play in allotment of tender to any person or any particular firm.