State Vigilance Bureau have unearthed 92 properties worth crores of rupees amassed by Surinderpal Singh, chief engineer of GMADA which were purchased by five firms floated by him in the name of his family members and associates. In addition to this Rs. 57 crores were deposited in 3 companies owned by his family.Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of Punjab Vigilance Bureau said as per the investigations conducted and searches made on various premises owned by the accused chief engineer so far, it has been found that he had purchased these properties with ill-gotten money in the name of companies or family members. He said further verifications were also under progress to uncover more assets owned by him or his family.He further added that a case u/s 13 (1) (D) r/w 13 (2) prevention of Corruption Act and 420, 506, 120-B of IPC had already been registered in this regard at Police Station Flying Sqaud-1 at Mohali, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab against accused Surinderpal Singh, former chief engineer, GMADA and others and the main three accused have also been arrested.
Giving details of his properties purchased in the name of various firms and his family members, he said about 92 properties have been purchased by Surinderpal Singh since 2001 to 2016, out of which about 42 properties were purchased in the name of Access Agro Seed Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana, 5 properties by Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana, 11 properties by Auster Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd., 20 properties of Akme Crushers and Builders Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana, 2 properties of Ek Onkar Builders and Contractors Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana and 12 properties were bought in the name of his family members and relatives. In addition to this, he had also purchased a 2 kanal kothi in Chandigarh in 2014 in the name of Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd.The spokesperson further added that Access Agro Seeds Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana was incorporated in March 2005 and directors of the company were Surinderpal Singh's wife Mandeep Kaur and mother Swarnjit Kaur. The acused had deposited approx Rs 20 crores in cash till 31/03/16 in the company and further verification was being done in this case. He said the Award Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana was formed on 09/02/2009 in which directors of the company were Mandeep Kaur w/o Surinderpal Singh and Swarnjit Kaur mother of Surinderpal Singh. He added that total amount of approx Rs 18 crores were deposited in cash till 31/03/16 in this firm.
Another firm incorporated by the accused was Auster Agro Traders Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana which was formed on 09/02/2009 having company directors Mandeep Kaur and Swarnjit Kaur, his wife and mother respectively. The spokesperson also revealed that the accused had incorporated another firm on 10/11/2008 in the name of Akme Crushers and Builders Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana in which his wife Mandeep Kaur owns majority of shares. He further said that Ek Onkar Builders and Contractors Pvt. Ltd. Ludhiana was formed on 16/12/2010 in which directors and shareholders were former JE Gurmesh Gill and Mohit Kumar, son of a retired employee and the accused Surinderpal Singh had allotted various construction works during his stint. Investigations by Bureau have revealed that Ek Onkar Builders has completed various contract works with GMADA and Punjab Mandi Board and most of the payments deposited in its account were received from these authorities. However, large amount of cash withdrawn from this account was deposited in the accounts of above mentioned firms namely Access, Award and Auster and further enquiry in this case was under progress, he added.