Vigilance registers case against 3 contractors, 3 firms for committing fraud during transportation of food grains in grain markets

Chandigarh, February 23: Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has registered a criminal case against three contractors and three firms after finding fraud in allotment of tenders for transportation of food grains, clubbing of clusters for transportation and labor tenders in various grain markets of Sangrur district. Further investigation in this case was under progress.

          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against contractor Paramveer Singh resident of Dhanula, district Barnala, contractor Jaswant Rai, resident of village Malewal, district SBS Nagar, contractor Rajiv Kumar Jaiton, M/s: Zimmidara Transport Company Khanna, M/s: Zaildar Contractors, M/s: Jagroop Singh & Sandeep Kumar Malerkotla.

          Giving details, he added that during the investigations it was found that at the time of allotting tenders for food grain's transportation, the above said accused during the year 2019-20 in conniving with each other and decreased the number of clusters for transportation besides cartage, and labour tenders. Earlier to this, there were about 58 clusters for transportation, 50 clusters for cartage and about 180 clusters for labor work due to which small contractors were used to participate in the tender process. Due to the competition among the contractors, tenders having lower rates were allotted but in the year 2020-21, the said clusters were made very big without any valid reason so that as per the new policy, small contractors couldn't fulfill the high turnover condition and participate in the tenders.

          He further informed that in connivance with officials/employees of the department, the said accused had made 39 clusters for transportation, 21 clusters for cartage, 8 clusters for labour and cartage and 21 clusters of labour separately.

          The spokesperson added that after obtaining the list of vehicles registered in the gate passes from the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Sangrur, it was found that there were many vehicles having registration numbers of scooters/motorcycles/cars etc., while the transportation work could not be done through such vehicles.

          He informed that during the probe, it was found that government money has been embezzled by these accused on the basis of fake gate passes. In this regard, FIR No. 06 dated 22/02/2023 under sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and Ssections 13(1)(a), 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. has been registered in Vigilance Bureau Patiala police station.

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