Vigilance Bureau arrests absconding PUNSUP District Manager in multi-crore paddy scam

Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Jagandeep Singh Dhillon, the former District Manager (DM) of PUNSUP in Ludhiana, who had been absconding in connection with a multi-crore paddy scam involving the grain markets of Ludhiana district. Dhillon surrendered before the Ludhiana court today and was subsequently arrested by the VB.

A spokesperson for the state Vigilance Bureau disclosed that Dhillon was wanted in connection with a scam related to paddy transportation tenders within the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab. In this regard, a FIR No. 11 dated 16.08.2022 was registered under sections 409, 467, 420, and other relevant sections of the IPC, along with sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, at the VB Police Station, Ludhiana Range against former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and other accused.

He further informed that Dhillon had previously obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court on 18.09.2023. However, the Supreme Court set aside the bail order on 16.07.2024. Since then, Dhillon had been absent from duty and was placed under suspension by his department. The VB had been making continuous efforts to apprehend him.

The spokesperson further revealed that Dhillon, as a member of the District Tender Committee, during the 2020-21 period, failed to verify the tenders of certain contractors involved in the scam. He allegedly colluded with these contractors, facilitating the allotment of tenders in exchange for bribes. Additionally, Dhillon violated clause 12(j) of the State Custom Milling Policy by transferring food grains from the shops of commission agents Krishan Lal and Anil Jain to the rice shellers of their relatives, in contravention of established procedures.

It was further revealed that Krishan Lal, one of the accused, had recovered over 2,000 jute bags from other states, which were used to transport the paddy. Dhillon, in criminal conspiracy with co-accused Surinder Berry, the then District Manager of PUNGRAIN, allegedly used the influence of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, to divert the paddy from the Anaj Mandis of villages Lalton and Dhandran in Ludhiana district to the Ludhiana Central markets instead of the Killa Raipur center. This manipulation was reportedly done to extract large bribes from rice millers.

As part of the investigation, it was found that Dhillon collected bribes ranging from Rs. 3 to Rs. 10 per paddy bag from rice millers in exchange for favorable allotments. Furthermore, he overlooked discrepancies in gate pass registrations, which listed scooter and motorcycle numbers instead of truck numbers, allowing for the misappropriation of paddy stored in the godowns in collusion with contractors.

He further informed that following continuous raids and mounting pressure from the VB, Dhillon, seeing no other alternative, surrendered to the Ludhiana court today and was sent to judicial custody. Further investigation into this case was under progress.