Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 14
The Vigilance Bureau today claimed to have unearthed 92 properties worth crores purchased by five firms floated by former GMADA Chief Engineer Surinderpal Singh Pehalwan him in the name of his family members and associates.Additionally, Rs 57 crore was deposited in three companies owned by his family. An official spokesperson revealed that the accused had purchased these properties with ill-gotten money.Giving details, the properties had been purchased by Surinderpal between 2001 to 2016, out of which 42 properties were purchased in the name of Access Agro Seed Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana, five properties by Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana, 11 properties by Auster Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd, 20 properties of Akme Crushers and Builders Pvt. Ltd, Ludhiana; two properties of Ek Onkar Builders and Contractors Pvt. Ltd, Ludhiana; and 12 other properties in the name of his family members and relatives.He had also purchased a two- kanal kothi in Chandigarh in 2014 in the name of Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd. Access Agro Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana, was incorporated in March 2005 and directors of the company were Surinderpal’s wife Mandeep Kaur and mother Swarnjit Kaur.The acused had deposited about Rs 20 crore in cash till March 31, 2016 in the company and further verifications were underway in the case.Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana, was formed on February 9, 2009, in which the directors too were Mandeep Kaur and Swarnjit Kaur.The spokesperson added that about Rs 18 crore was deposited in cash in this firm till March 31, 2016.
ED seeks files from VBJalandhar: Already probing alleged money laundering by PCS officer Anand Sagar Sharma, the Enforcement Directorate now intends to investigate the case of former Chief Engineer, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Surinderpal Singh Pehalwan (pic). The zonal office of the central investigative agency has written to DGP (VB) seeking a copy of the FIR and related documents. TNS
Badals’ ‘blue-eyed boy’ is worth ₹1,200 cr: VB probe
CHANDIGARH: The vigilance bureau has found that man di board superintending engineer( SE) Surinder Pal Singh ‘Pehalwan’, an alleged favourite of the Badals of the Shir omani Akali Dal( SAD ), has 92 properties worth more than ₹1,200 cr ore across the state in the names of his family and associates.
These include 30 commercial properties in SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Moga, Sangrur, Muktsar, Malout and Rupnagar, among other places, and a 1,000-sq-yard house in Chandigarh bought in 2014. Three companies owned by his family also have deposits of ₹57 crore. The properties were allegedly amassed over 16 years — SAD-BJP ruled Punjab for 10 of those years — starting from when he was a junior engineer.
This is clearly disproportionate to his salary, which is now around ₹1 lakh a month, VB sleuths conducting the probe said. A detailed analysis of documents shows that there is “hardly any prime location left” in the state’s major cities where the SE — son-in-law of a cousin of former CM Parkash Singh Badal — does not own property, said VB officials on Wednesday.
“Estimation of present value of the properties is on,” said vigilance chief director BK Uppal, adding, “The possibility of his owning more properties is not ruled out.”
The Badal regime was so benevolent to the officer that, at one point in 2014, he held 22 official posts, including those of chief engineer of Mandi Board, of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), and of Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA).
IN WHOSE NAME?
Uppal said these properties were purchased by five firms floated by him in the name of his family and associates. Of the 92 properties, 42 were purchased in the name of Access Agro Seed Pvt Ltd and five in the name of Award Agro Traders Pvt Ltd, both firms registered in Ludhiana. Eleven properties were bought by Auster Agro Traders Pvt Ltd; 20 by Akme Crushers and Builders Pvt Ltd; two by Ek Onkar Builders and Contractors Pvt Ltd, Ludhiana; and 12 in the individual names of relatives. A two-kanal kothi in Chandigarh was bought in the name of Award Agro Traders.
Access Agro Seeds was incorporated in March 2005 and the directors of the company are Pehalwan’s wife Mandeep Kaur and mother Swarnjit Kaur. The same two women are directors in Award Agro Traders.
