AIT ex-chief's arrest: Vigilance finds irregularities in allotment of tenders

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 11

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, while investigating into the alleged irregularities by former Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) chairman Dinesh Bassi in allotment of residential plots, found a number of anomalies in the allocation of tenders for development works in the city and Verka milk booths.

Bassi was produced in the local court after expiry of his police remand. The court further extended his remand by two days. Vigilance officials pointed out that during probe several evidences came to light which pointed towards alleged connivance of officers or employees of the AIT in allotment of commercial and residential plots to various persons. The files of allotment of these plots were found missing from the trust office, they said.

A vigilance spokesman said as per the initial probe, Bassi had issued tenders for development works worth Rs 300 crore to Rs 400 crore during his tenure as chairman. During probe, the vigilance found many irregularities, requiring a thorough inquiry. He said further investigations may unearth a multi-crore scam in the trust. “Names of various construction firms and contractors have also cropped up,” he added.

He said as per preliminary investigation, Bassi had undertaken development work of the Community Hall, New Amritsar, Ram Talai Mandir, GT Road, Amritsar, Valla Stadium at Verka, seven acres park at New Amritsar, an underbridge at Jorha Phatak, truck stand scheme and a smart government school at Chheharta from 2019 to 2021. The records of these works were being procured to investigate irregularities thoroughly.

The spokesperson added that around 37 firms were enlisted by Bassi and they were registered as contractors against government norms without obtaining required documents from these firms. These contractors were allotted tenders/works worth crores by Bassi, allegedly by abusing his position.

“Bassi had allegedly allotted various commercial/residential plots to his close associates in an illegal manner. Their allocation was carried out in violation of government norms. Besides, files of some commercial/residential plots went missing from sale branch of the trust,” the spokesman said, adding that the vigilance had sought the record from the trust office for thorough investigation.

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