Thaindian News

Chandigarh, May 9 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday questioned Punjab ministers Manoranjan Kalia (industries and local bodies) and Swarna Ram (social welfare and justice) in connection with a Rs.1.5 crore graft case.

The CBI had sent summons at their official residences here Saturday.

Kalia, who arrived at the CBI office here in Sector 30 at around 11 a.m., was questioned for nearly an hour regarding the graft case in which his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) colleague and chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Raj Khurana was arrested last week.

Swarna Ram was quizzed in the afternoon for nearly two hours.

The CBI probe is related to an alleged bribe Khurana and a former state employee sought over a land deal case. The money, they allegedly said, was meant for the two ministers.

Khurana Sunday resigned from the post of chief parliamentary secretary.

“The questioning went on for about 50 minutes and they asked various details about the case. I made one thing very clear that I did not know anything about this corruption case and have no knowledge about the money involved in it,” Kalia later told reporters.

“I am not afraid of CBI interrogation. In fact, I had called the investigation officer myself and fixed an appointment. In future also, I am ready to cooperate in the investigation process,” Kalia said.

He added: “I want to make it clear that the CBI has not named me in the FIR (first information report) and they have only called me for simple questioning. Therefore, I see no reason to resign. I am innocent and have full belief that truth will come out in public.”

Nearly 200 BJP supporters had gathered outside the CBI office here, shouting slogans, while the questioning was going on.

After his questioning, Swarna Ram told reporters: “My questioning went for nearly two hours. The CBI officials were very calm and they have assured me that they will bring out the truth. I am very much satisfied about their probe.”

Ram had written a note to Kalia April 7, 2011 to look into the land deal case, about which he was questioned by the CBI.

“My PS (personal secretary) Bhag Singh had told me to issue that note and I did the same, asking the concerned ministry to look into the matter. He also told me to write to the chief minister regarding the case. But I did not do so as I was not aware about it,” Ram added.

The CBI arrested Raj Khurana May 5 from his official residence after a raid at his house Wednesday night.

The agency also arrested Devinder Singh Bittu, a former state government employee, from Khurana’s residence and seized Rs.15 lakh in cash, cheques worth Rs.1.5 crore and an expensive Porsche car.

The CBI officials, who were trailing Bittu, alleged that Khurana and Bittu had demanded bribe from an association of mechanics to settle a case involving a land deal near Rajpura, 45 km from here.

The two allegedly said they were asking the money for the two ministers.

Kalia is one of the senior-most ministers in the Punjab cabinet after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Sukhbir Singh Badal has condemned the CBI for their haste in action in this case.

“After going through the whole operation, we get a feeling that the CBI has needlessly involved BJP leaders without having any direct evidence. We questioned the undue haste shown by the CBI in this whole episode,” said Badal, in a statement issued here Monday.

Ashwani Sharma, Punjab BJP chief, said: “The CBI is working as a puppet of the Congress. We have no trust in this agency. Despite their efforts, the Punjab BJP is still united and we firmly stand beside our leaders.”