The economic offences wing of the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) on Wednesday raided the BRS Nagar residence of Raman Balasubramanium, a former Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairperson.
The VB had on July 28 booked Balasubramanium, who is also a senior Congress leader, and five others, for corruption in the sale of plots in Ludhiana.
During investigation in another bribery case from July this year, it was found that LIT officials adopted corrupt practices in the allotment of several plots under the local displaced persons category and other schemes.
Balasubramanium’s personal assistant Sandeep Sharma was arrested by the vigilance officials on July 28 and an FIR against the duo, executive officer Kuljit Kaur, sales clerk Parveen Kumar, SDO Ankit Narang and junior assistant Gaganadeep Goyal was lodged.
Earlier, on July 14 the vigilance bureau had arrested executive officer Kuljit Kaur and sales clerk Parveen Kumar for accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 for re-allotment of a booth.Vigilance officials, during investigating, found out the corrupt practices adopted by the former chairperson and other officials.
The vigilance bureau had found the accused had allotted plot number 9-B in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, plot numbers 102, 103, 104, 105, 106-D in Rishi Nagar and plot number 366-B, 140 in Sarabha Nagar of Ludhiana. These plots were under the local displaced persons and other schemes were allotted to unauthorised persons after accepting bribes, it has been alleged.
Notably, Balasubramanim is also facing allegations of encroaching a public park and started using it to install generators and park his cars during his tenure as the LIT chief. He had barred the entry of the locals by erecting fences. The local authorities removed the encroachment and opened the park for the locals.
{{/usCountry}}Notably, Balasubramanim is also facing allegations of encroaching a public park and started using it to install generators and park his cars during his tenure as the LIT chief. He had barred the entry of the locals by erecting fences. The local authorities removed the encroachment and opened the park for the locals.
{{/usCountry}}While his anticipatory bail plea was first rejected by court in August, the accused had got some relief from the Punjab and Haryana high court that directed the Vigilance to issue a seven-day notice before arresting him.
The Vigilance is set to appeal against the HC order.