Foodgrain Scam: Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail To Former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu's 'PA'

The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to Pankaj Kumar @ Meenu Malhotra, the alleged PA to former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Kumar is one of the accused in the Food Grain Scam that took place during the minister's tenure in 2020-21.

He was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, on allegations of receiving bribes through his conduits to compromise the tender for food procurement and transportation, as well as its quality and conditions.

“The material investigation is complete. The petitioner has been in custody since 05-01- 2023... Given this and other factors peculiar to this case, there would be no justifiability for further pre-trial incarceration at this stage, subject to the compliance of terms and conditions mentioned in this order,” said Justice Anoop Chitkara.

The Court was hearing a bail plea filed under Section 439 CrPC. The accused was booked under Sections 7,8,12,13(2) of PC Act and Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC.

It was alleged that the petitioner had taken illegal gratification from contractors, including co-accused Telu Ram, and further provided illegal gratification to former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, being his PA, in exchange for allocating tenders to the contractors.

It was further alleged that the tender to contractor Telu Ram was allocated at a higher rate and the tender of Honey Kumar was rejected at basic rate in 2020-21 and also in 2021-22.

The senior counsel for the petitioner argued that he was not named in the FIR, and subsequently, the name of the petitioner has been wrongly added based on an alleged disclosure statement by the co-accused.

“The petitioner was not part of the tender allotment committee which was responsible for allotment of tender,” the senior counsel submitted.

Case Title: Pankaj Kumar @ Meenu Malhotra v. State of Punjab

Appearance: Sr. Advocate Bipan Ghai with Advocates Nikhil Ghai and Prabhdeep Singh Bindra for the petitioner.

Karunesh Kaushal, AAG, Punjab.

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