Chandigarh May 7:
In an embarrassment to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab, the CBI on Thursday arrested BJP MLA from Rajpura, Raj Khurana, who is also the Chief Parliamentary Secretary of the state, and a government official for allegedly demanding bribe of Rs 1.5 crore for closing a complaint against an association of the state.
The CBI took action on a complaint received from the secretary of an association alleging that an official of Registrar, Firms and Societies, Punjab, Devinder Singh has demanded bribe of Rs 1.5 crore for closing a complaint against the association without any action, official sources said.
Singh has allegedly assured the complainant that he has approached a Minister in Punjab Cabinet through Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana for closing the complaint and will charge Rs two crore for the same, they said. "The accused also threatened that in case of non-payment of the bribe amount, control of the association shall be taken over by the Government and a criminal case will be registered against the office bearers of the Association," official spokesperson said in New Delhi.
After negotiations, Singh allegedly agreed to bring down amount to Rs 1.5 crore for settling the matter, sources said. Singh after collecting the amount from the complainant allegedly reached the residence of Khurana last night where a CBI team led by DIG Mahesh Aggarwal had laid a trap. The duo were detained and arrested today. A case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Singh. The charges against Khurana will be registered once some more clinching evidence is gathered during the probe, sources said.
"Searches are being conducted at the residence of both the accused persons. Both the arrested persons were produced today before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chandigarh," the spokesperson said. Khurana's son Tarun claimed that in search and seizure report, the CBI maintained that it had not found any incriminating document from Khurana's residence. A spokesman of the BJP Punjab unit said that the action was aimed at defaming the party.
Khurana is a BJP MLA from Rajpura and had switched sides by leaving Congress to join the saffron party ahead of last Assembly elections in Punjab. Earlier this week a court in Mohali had convicted Sohan Singh Thandal, an SAD MLA, in a disproportionate assets and corruption case following which he quit the post.
In an embarrassment to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab, the CBI on Thursday arrested BJP MLA from Rajpura, Raj Khurana, who is also the Chief Parliamentary Secretary of the state, and a government official for allegedly demanding bribe of Rs 1.5 crore for closing a complaint against an association of the state.
The CBI took action on a complaint received from the secretary of an association alleging that an official of Registrar, Firms and Societies, Punjab, Devinder Singh has demanded bribe of Rs 1.5 crore for closing a complaint against the association without any action, official sources said.
Singh has allegedly assured the complainant that he has approached a Minister in Punjab Cabinet through Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana for closing the complaint and will charge Rs two crore for the same, they said. "The accused also threatened that in case of non-payment of the bribe amount, control of the association shall be taken over by the Government and a criminal case will be registered against the office bearers of the Association," official spokesperson said in New Delhi.
After negotiations, Singh allegedly agreed to bring down amount to Rs 1.5 crore for settling the matter, sources said. Singh after collecting the amount from the complainant allegedly reached the residence of Khurana last night where a CBI team led by DIG Mahesh Aggarwal had laid a trap. The duo were detained and arrested today. A case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Singh. The charges against Khurana will be registered once some more clinching evidence is gathered during the probe, sources said.
"Searches are being conducted at the residence of both the accused persons. Both the arrested persons were produced today before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chandigarh," the spokesperson said. Khurana's son Tarun claimed that in search and seizure report, the CBI maintained that it had not found any incriminating document from Khurana's residence. A spokesman of the BJP Punjab unit said that the action was aimed at defaming the party.
Khurana is a BJP MLA from Rajpura and had switched sides by leaving Congress to join the saffron party ahead of last Assembly elections in Punjab. Earlier this week a court in Mohali had convicted Sohan Singh Thandal, an SAD MLA, in a disproportionate assets and corruption case following which he quit the post.
