I-T Dept takes note, seeks bank details of Rana’s staff

Chandigarh : Tightening the noose around Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s four employees, who participated in recent auction of quarries, the Income Tax Department has started investigating their financial status.
The I-T Department has asked the Mining and Minerals Department to provide the record of their financial transactions, bank details etc.
Sources said in a letter written to the Department of Industries and Commerce on May 29, the department has sought documents related to the auction of the four mines in which Rana Gurjit’s employees had participated. Though the department has sought information on four points, its focus is on the financial transactions. It has demanded information on the total money deposited by the four persons and mode of payment and bank details.
The department has sought the entire record of payments made by the said persons before and after the auction.
The department has also demanded a copy of the documents and annexure the four employees had submitted for participating in the bidding.
Officials of the Mining and Mineral Department are also under the scanner. The sources said the complete file noting related to the four mines in question had also been sought.
Besides, the department has also been asked about the current status of the allotment of mines to the four employees.
The Tribune had exposed that four employees of Rana Sugars successfully bid for mining contracts in the e-auction held on May 19-20.
Amit Bahadur, a former cook, bagged a mining site at Saidpur Khurd village in Nawanshahar for Rs 26.51 crore; Kulwinder Paul Singh, deputy general manager, got Mehadipur quarry for Rs 9.21 crore; Gurinder Singh got a quarry at Rampur Kalan village in Mohali district for Rs 4.11 crore; and Balraj Singh was awarded a quarry at Bairsal village for Rs 10.58 crore.