Mining contract case: Terms, conditions of probe panel

The Punjab government today notified the terms and conditions for the inquiry commission constituted to probe alleged irregularities in the sand mining auctions case involving cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh.
The one-man commission of retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice J S Narang will probe all aspects of the allegations of impropriety against Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh in the multi-crore sand mining auctions conducted recently by the state government.
Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the Punjab government said the notification had been issued after getting the terms and conditions finalised by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi.

The commission has been mandated to inquire whether the terms and conditions of the bid were adhered to while awarding the tender of the two mines to Amit Bahadur and Kulvinder Pal Singh.
Whether Gurjit Singh has in any manner influenced the price bid at which these two mines were awarded and if the bidders were bidding on behalf of the minister in question, for the said two mines, said the spokesman.
The commission has also been mandated to inquire whether the minister has received any undue financial benefit or gain from the award of such two mines to the bidders and if there has been any loss to the state revenue by the award of such two mines to the bidders at the price in question.

The tenure of the commission would be for an initial period of one month to be extended by government if required.

All the provisions of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 shall apply to the said Commission, the official said.
The notification further pointed out that the government had taken cognisance of news reports that alleged that the bidders were employees of Gurjit Singh.
The earnest money payable by such bidders (within 2 days as per the tender conditions) was paid by one Rajbir Enterprises.
The allegation appears to be that the said bidders are nothing but a front for the minister in question, who had influenced the price bid by virtue of being a minister, thus financially benefiting from the tender, causing loss to the state revenue, as per the notification.

The commission was constituted by the government in view of the public importance of the issue, given the need to maintain law and order in the state and the faith of people of Punjab in good governance by the state, the notification added.