Ludhiana city centre scam: Hearing adjourned to Aug 3

A sessions court here today adjourned the the Rs 1,140 Ludhiana City Centre scam case, allegedly involving Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, his son and son-in-law, among others, to August 3.

District and Session Judge Gurbir Singh also adjourned the hearing on a plea by Punjab Vigilance Bureau's former SSP Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, a key investigator in the case, who has alleged that he was "threatened" to change his stand in the case in favour of the chief minister.

In his plea filed on July 17 this year, the former Vigilance SSP has pleaded with the court to hear him also before accepting the Vigilance Bureau's closure report filed on August 19, 2017 in the case.

Overruling its 100-page chargesheet filed initially, the Vigilance Bureau had submitted a closure report in the case, saying that there was no scam at all and that no proof has been found against the accused including Captain Amarinder Singh, his son Raninder Singh, son in law Raminder Singh and 33 others following a re-investigation.

The former Bureau SSP, however, has moved the court seeking to be heard, saying that as a key investigator in the case he is "privy to certain important facts" which he wants to bring to the notice of the court.

He has also alleged that there is a threat to his 'life and liberty'.

The state public prosecutor, however, today sought dismissal of the former Bureau SSP's plea saying that it was "baseless and politically motivated".

The FIR in the case was filed in 2007, during SAD-BJP rule. It was alleged that during Amarinder Singh's first stint as the CM in 2003, a Delhi-based private company Today Homes was favoured for executing Ludhiana City Centre project and was given undue benefit for it.

The case had been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Though the chargesheet was filed earlier, the charges were yet to be framed against the accused. Out of the 36 accused in the case, four have died.

Touted as one of the biggest projects in the state, the Ludhiana City Centre plan was rolled out in 2006. To be spread over 25 acres of land, the project proposed to have shopping malls, 12 multiplexes, residential apartments, helipad and parking slot. The project site on Pakhowal Road of Ludhiana, however, is currently in ruins.