Problems seems to have compounded for Punjab DGP SS Virk, with the EC taking a serious note of the state government’s approval to the multi-crore mega project.
Seeks explanation on a multi-crore project
CHANDIGARH: Problems seems to have compounded for Punjab DGP SS Virk, with the Election Commission taking a serious note of the state government’s approval to the multi-crore mega project floated by his brother RDS Virk.
The project is proposed at the site where a night club is already being run by the Virk family. Within the last one week the EC has sent two communications to the state government seeking details about the project.
Principal secretary (Home) BC Gupta had furnished an explanation early this week, on the basis of a reply submitted by the DGP. The explanation had left many things unexplained.
In its second communication within 24 hours, the EC asked chief secretary KR Lakhanpal to give a point-wise explanation on 19 queries put forth by the EC, including one on the night club.
The controversy started last week after Akali Dal general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the government had
favoured the DGP days before the model code of conduct came into effect, by not only hurriedly clearing the Rs 250 crore mega project, but also by granting him tax concessions worth Rs 245 crore.
Virk, who is a Maharashtra cadre IPS officer, has been on deputation to Punjab for the last ten years.
In his reply, the chief secretary clarified on Thursday that the DGP shared 50 per cent of the land on which the project was proposed to come up. The project, in which Virk has been named as a sleeping partner, envisages setting up of the Chandigarh International Convention Centre, construction of a 480-room five star hotel, 182 studio apartments, multiplex with food courts and shopping mall.
Badal said the project had been grossly undervalued to mislead the government and it would cost more than Rs 650 crore at the current market rate.
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