Chandigarh March 6 (ozi news desk): Accused R.K. Singla, Deputy Director Food and Civil Supplies Punjab has also been declared proclaimed offender (PO) by the CJM Court SBS Nagar in case related to allotting labour and transportation contracts of food grains in the grain markets of SBS Nagar district.
Earlier, said accused Rakesh Kumar Singla, was declared a PO by a Ludhiana court in the food grain transportation scam unearthed by the VB in the grain markets of Ludhiana district.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said in this regard a FIR No 18 dated 22-09-2022, under sections 7, 8, 12, 13(2) of prevention of corruption act and under section 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC had already been registered at VB police station Jalandhar range against seven accused along with RK Singla, former food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and contractors.
He further informed that the said accused in connivance with the former minister and department officers/officials had awarded tenders to contractors at higher costs by taking bribes. During investigation it has also came to light that the contractors have submitted forged fake documents pertaining to registration numbers of vehicles like tractors, harvesters combines, two wheelers etc. for transportation of food grains from Mandis to godowns, he added.
The spokesperson informed that among the seven accused in this case, chargesheet (Challan) of contractor Tellu Ram, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and his PA Meenu Malhotra has been presented in the competent court. Accused Rakesh Bhaskar, district food and civil supplies controller has passed away.
During the trial the said accused accused RK Singla failed to appear before the court and has been declared proclaimed offender. Another supplementary chargesheet against RK Singla along with accused contractors Ajay Pal and Yash Pal would be presented in court shortly.
