The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized assets worth ₹22.78 crore in connection with a tender scam involving former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The assets include immovable properties, fixed deposits (FDRs), gold jewelry, bullion, and bank account funds, located in Ludhiana, Mohali, Khanna, and other regions of Punjab.
Scam During Ministerial Tenure
Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the former Food and Civil Supplies Minister, is accused of manipulating the tender allocation process in exchange for bribes, favoring select contractors. The ED launched its investigation based on FIRs filed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These irregularities pertain to the allocation of government contracts.
Bribe Money Laundered Into Properties
According to the ED’s findings, Ashu and his associates funneled the bribe money through a network of shell companies to purchase both movable and immovable properties. The seized assets are considered proceeds of this illegal activity. Along with private contractors, several government officials from the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department are also implicated.
Raids and Arrests
The ED previously conducted raids at 28 locations across Punjab on August 24 and September 4, 2024. Following these raids, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and his associate Rajdeep Singh Nagra were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Both are currently in judicial custody as the investigation continues.
This case marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to tackle corruption, with further developments anticipated as the inquiry deepens.