Thaindian News

Chandigarh, May 7 (IANS) The Punjab government has questioned the working of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the probe agency arrested the state’s chief parliamentary secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Raj Khurana in a Rs.1.5 crore graft case.

The CBI has also expressed suspicion over the involvement of other two Punjab ministers — Manoranjan Kalia and Swarna Ram, in the corruption case.

In a letter to CBI deputy inspector general, Chandigarh circle, Friday night, Punjab Chief Secretary S.C. Agrawal openly backed the state ministers and the CPS.

“The basis of proceeding against Raj Khurana is not clear from the verification report and attached transcripts. No ‘note’ from Swarna Ram has been attached with the documents. He is not connected with the affairs of the office of the registrar of societies,” stated the letter.

“No note/file, as attributed in the transcripts and the verification report regarding a purported note from Swarna Ram has been found in the offices of Raj Khurana and Kalia. In such a situation, it is not clear as to what role Raj Khurana could have played in helping to close a non existent file,” it said.

Punjab automobile mechanic association had complained to the CBI that Devinder Singh Bittu, a senior official of the state government, had asked for a bribe of Rs.1.5 crore for settling a case pending against them.

Bittu had told the complainant that he would get the work done through Khurana, who had already talked to Punjab ministers regarding the matter.

He threatened that in case the bribe was not paid, the control of the association will be taken over by the government and a criminal case would be registered against its office-bearers.

Bittu was also arrested Thursday. He and Khurana were sent to two-day CBI remand.

“In the entirety of facts and circumstances which have come to light, it is felt that perhaps sufficient care and caution was not exercised in verifying the reasons being given by Bittu to proceed against Khurana.”

Meanwhile, CBI officials claimed that they have enough proofs to consolidate this case against Khurana and others. They are also likely to summon Kalia for questing in the case.

Khurana was arrested from his house Thursday morning after the raid at his residence in the high-security ministerial bungalow complex in Sector 39 that began Wednesday and continued through the night.

An expensive Porsche car, owned by Bittu, was found from his house and nearly Rs.15 lakh in cash and cheques were found from the vehicle.

Kalia is industries and local bodies minister while Ram is technical education and industrial training minister.