In connection with the notorious rice crop scam in Ludhiana district and various grain markets, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has apprehended yet another key suspect, Kalu Ram, hailing from New Abadi in Jaiton Mandi, District Ferozepur. Following his appearance in the Ludhiana district court, he has been granted a two-day police remand.
A spokesperson for the Bureau revealed that Kalu Ram had significant ties with Rakesh Kumar Singla, the suspended Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. It came to light that Kalu Ram, the suspect, had been involved in the unauthorized procurement of rice from other states without adhering to the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Subsequently, he supplied this rice to counterfeit rice millers, Krishna Lal and Surinder Kumar Dhotiwala, operating in Ludhiana district.
These individuals, in collaboration with commission agents and brokers, prepared false invoices depicting inflated crop yields. This deception enabled the state government to sell the rice at MSP, thereby reaping significant additional profits. The case was initially registered at the Vigilance Bureau’s police station in the Ludhiana range. Out of a total of 16 individuals implicated in the scandal, 11 suspects have already been arrested. This group includes former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Teelu Ram, Jagroop Singh, and Sandeep Lootia (all three being contractors), Anil Jain, Kishan Lal Dhotiwala, and Surinder Kumar Dhotiwala (all commission agents), DFSC Harvinder Kaur, and Sukhwinder Singh Gill.
Two private assistants of former minister Ashu, namely Pankaj alias Minu Malhotra and Indirjit Indi, are also among the apprehended suspects. However, two other suspects, Surinder Berry (DFSC – Retd.) and Jagandeep Dhillon (DM Panjab), have been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court.
On the other hand, the prime suspect, Parmjit Cheema, had his anticipatory bail plea dismissed by the Supreme Court. He has been directed to surrender himself to the Vigilance Bureau.