New Delhi, September 9
Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar arrested Rajdeep Singh Nagra in a money laundering case related to Tender Scam in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Nagra is allegedly an associate of former Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in Punjab, Bharat Bhushan Sharma.
ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of various FIRs registered by Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, under various sections of IPC, 1860 and of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 related to ‘Tender Scam’ in Department of Food and Civil Supplies.
ED investigation revealed that Rajdeep Singh Nagra collected kickbacks from the contractors and transferred the said Proceeds of Crime (PoC) to Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Rakesh Kumar Singla and other persons including government officials of Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department and also kept some amount of commission himself.
Accordingly, a search action u/s 17 of the PMLA, 2002 was undertaken on 04.09.2024 at four residential and business premises of Rajdeep Singh Nagra which resulted in recovery and seizure of highly incriminating documents and two mobile phones, the analysis of which reveals that the said Rajdeep Singh Nagra was conduit between the contractors and the Ex Minister/Government official for transfer of POC in the said Tender Scam, officials stated.
Earlier, ED carried out search operations last year in the Tender Scam which led to seizure of cash and freezing of funds lying in the bank accounts, freezing of properties seizure of gold jewellery and gold bullions totaling more than Rs. 8.46 Crore.
Last month Bharat Bhushan Sharma was also arrested in the said matter and he is in the judicial custody presently.
