Fastway evaded Rs 684-cr tax: Sidhu

Chandigarh : Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today egged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on to act against business cartels allegedly allowed to flourish under the Akali-BJP rule, claiming his department had uncovered tax evasion worth Rs 684 crore by Fastway Transmission Private Limited. The multi-system cable operator (MSO) is believed to be linked to former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, though its managing director is Gurdeep Singh Kohli. While Sukhbir has denied he has any business or other interest in Fastway, Kohli has termed Sidhu’s allegations baseless.Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha, Sidhu said while his department had issued notices to the company for the alleged violations, it was now for the Chief Minister to register an FIR and order a Vigilance probe against the company that had caused huge losses to the state exchequer. “If we do not act now, we will be cowards,” he exhorted the Chief Minister, who was not present in the House. Several Congress MLAs have been demanding action against the Badals over alleged “sand, cable and drug mafia” that thrived under the previous government.