Foodgrain scam: Former dist mgr, Punsup arrested

Times News Network
Ludhiana: Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested Jagandeep Singh Dhillon, former district manager (DM) of Punsup, Ludhiana, who was named in the multi-crore paddy scam involving grain markets of the district. Dhillon, who was at large, surrendered before the Ludhiana court and was arrested.
A VB spokesman said that Dhillon was wanted in connection with a scam related to paddy transportation tenders in the food and civil supplies department, Punjab.An FIR was registered on August 16, 2022 under relevant sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB Police Station, Ludhiana Range against former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and others.
The spokesman said that Dhillon had obtained anticipatory bail from high court on September 18, 2023 but the Supreme Court set aside the bail order on July 16. Since then, VB had been trying to nab him. Also, Dhillon remained absent from duty after the registration of FIR against him and was suspended by the department.
The spokesperson said that Dhillon, as a member of the district tender committee in 2020-21, failed to verify tenders of certain contractors involved in the scam. He allegedly colluded with these contractors, facilitating allotment of tenders in exchange for bribes. Additionally, Dhillon violated clause 12(j) of the State Custom Milling Policy by transferring food grains from shops of commission agents Krishan Lal and Anil Jain to rice shellers of their relatives, in contravention with established procedures.
It was found that Dhillon collected bribes ranging from Rs 3 to Rs 10 per paddy bag from rice millers for favourable allotments. He also overlooked discrepancies in gate pass registrations, which listed scooter and motorcycle numbers instead of truck numbers.