CHANDIGARH: Former food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu of the Congress failed to get any relief from the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday as the court did not issue any notice on his petition to the Punjab government and adjourned the case for next hearing to July 6.
Facing allegations of nearly Rs 2,000 crore scam in tenders during his tenure as minister, Ashu had approached the high court earlier this month seeking directions to the state police to serve him at least seven days prior notice in case he is required to be arrested in the case.
In his petition, the Congress functionary had submitted that he was being falsely implicated in the case due to political rivalry after the change of the government in the state. He has also sought directions for a fair and impartial probe in the complaint being looked into by the Ludhiana vigilance bureau office.
The complainant had submitted that during Ashu’s tenure as minister after 2019-20, tenders of labour and transportation for grain markets in Punjab were allotted to over 20 big contractors at arbitrary rates and 5,000 small contractors were overlooked by the department.
Bail petition of ex-minister Singla adjourned
The high court also adjourned hearing of the bail petition moved by Aam Aadmi Party MLA and ousted health minister Dr Vijay Singla in a corruption case for next hearing on July 4.
The Punjab police on Tuesday filed the status report of the case giving details of allegations against him and submitted that the investigation is in progress.
After the Mohali trial court had on June 10 dismissed his petition and extended his remand till June 24, Singla had moved HC seeking bail. The Mohali police had arrested the then health minister on May 24, in a corruption case regarding demanding bribe in allotment of tenders.
