Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrests absconding DFSC in 40 crores paddy scam in Veerumal Rice Mill
Chandigarh May 26 : Punjab Vigilance Bureau today arrested District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) Amritsar AP Singh who had duped the state exchequer of Rs.40 crore in connivance with other officials and Veeru Mal Mulakh Raj Rice mill owner.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau (VB) said that EOW, VB, SIT nabbed the accused DFSC from Patiala who was absconding and evading arrest. He informed that FIR No 44, U/Ss 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and 13(2) read with 13(1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act had already been registered at Police Station Jandiala Guru, Amritsar district and investigation of this case was taken over by VB from district police.
Some co-accused in this paddy scam including District Food and Civil Supplies Officer Raminder Singh Bath and Assistant Food and Civil Supplies Officer Vipan Sharma and Food Inspector Gurjinder Singh have already been arrested by the bureau and some are still absconding, he added.
The spokesperson further informed that the accused DFSC entered into a criminal conspiracy with some departmental officials and Veeru Mal Mulakh Raj rice mill owner and by abusing his official position caused huge loss to the state government. He added that accused Veeru Mal Mulakh Raj Rice Mill owner obtained a loan of approximately Rs 200 crores from the Punjab National Bank against government paddy and cheated PNB to the tune ₹200 crore and cheated Food and Civil Supplies department to the tune of ₹ 40 crore approx. in connivance with the accused officers.
The investigation by the VB so far has brought forth incriminating evidence against the suspects who failed to perform their duties. "A huge quantity of government paddy worth crores of rupees was found misappropriated from the above mentioned rice mill in Jandiala, allegedly by its owner.
The spokesperson further said the accused DFSC would be produced before the court for getting remand to investigate the modus operandi and roles played by the accused while committing this scam.