Punjab's Power Minister in quagmire

After the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now stepped up its attack on the Congress-led state government by demanded the immediate sacking of Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh over allegedly acquiring sand and gravel mines by acquiring benami transactions in the name of his former employees.

In a press conference here, AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira lashed out at the Congress government for allegedly shielding the minister.

"I have all relevant documents that could prove his (Singh) alleged role in the investment of benami amounts. I urge the CM to initiate a high-level inquiry into the allegations," he said, adding that he had details of all the bank accounts used for routing the money.

Questioning Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's silence on the issue, Khaira said the party would gherao the CM's residence on May 30 if no inquiry was initiated against the minister.

At least four former employees of Rana Sugars Limited, which is the company owned by the sugar baron, have emerged as successful bidders in the recently held sand mining auctions.

One of the four employees, Amit Bahadur, is a Nepal native who worked as a cook for Singh and has acquired a sand mining contract worth Rs 26.5 crore.

The names of the four employees figure in the 89 successful bidders of the 1,000 who participated in the auction.

While Singh, who is also the richest MLA in the Congress-led state government, has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that neither he nor his company has any direct or indirect stakes in the sand mining business, the state's opposition leaders demanded that it was an issue of corruption which needs to be thoroughly probed.

"If some of his former employees reportedly bid for the mines, it does not in any way imply that he has interests or stakes in the business," he argued.

Terming the sand mining auction as an 'eyewash', Shiromani Akali Dal too had lashed out at the Congress government demanding that the minister be proceeded against under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act.

Alleging that the minister had abused his authority to gain benefits, SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said that the party would raise the issue in Parliament.

The two-day e-auction of sand mines held on May 19 and 20 had netted bids worth Rs 1,026 crore, which marked a 20-fold increase in revenue which has been the highest ever earning for the state.

Singh owns distilleries and sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab along with his wife.