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Senior IAS officer held on corruption charges Chandigarh, January 22 Addressing a press conference here today, the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau, Mr Mohammad Izhar Alam, said the IAS officer of the 1982 batch had been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Mohali for causing the state exchequer a loss of Rs 95 lakh and for conspiring to give benefits to two companies. Mr Pirzada would be produced in a Kharar court tomorrow. Mr Alam stated that Mr Pirzada had without any authority given ELTOP Complex in Phase-8, Mohali, to Country Club, a private concern, on a 99-year lease for Rs 20,000 per month, flouting all norms. Mr Pirzada had also leased out a building of Punjab Recorders, BE -1000 ELTOP Complex, in Phase-8, Mohali, to Magnetic Infosys Technology on lease for Rs 22,675 per month to Mr Pavittar Singh Sidhu. Mr Sidhu sub-let the building on a monthly rent of Rs 2 lakh for the first six months, to be increased subsequently to Rs 3.50 lakh per month, to Mr Vinod Kumar, Senior Manager (Commercial), Infosys Technology. Interestingly, Mr Sidhu had taken a security deposit of Rs 21 lakh from the new lessee. This deal, the Vigilance chief said, had also been made in violation of regulations with “mala fide intentions for personal gain” by Mr Pirzada as the MD of the state-owned corporation. The officer had also been charged with keeping employees on contract in the corporation and extending their services unauthorisedly. Mr Alam said the IAS officer had been arrested on the basis of two complaints filed against him by social activist Jagjit Kaur and trade unionist Raj Pal on August 12, 2002, and June 12, 2002. Vigilance sleuths, led by the DIG (Flying Squad), Mr Kamaljit Singh Pannu, seized documents pertaining to the accused's properties, cash receipts showing deposits and investments in Delhi and Mumbai, etc. On being asked if the arrest was related to the publication of a media report regarding allegations of hawala transaction of $1,00,000 made against Punjab Chief Minister's son Raninder Singh, Mr Alam replied in the negative. However, reliable sources maintain that the officer was seen at the official residence of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on December 28, when the Akali leader sought a CBI probe into the alleged hawala transaction. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had denied his son's involvement. Mr Alam said that inquiries were also going on against certain other senior IAS officers and action could be taken against them.  |
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Political vendetta, says
wife Chandigarh, January 22 Mr Denesh Goel, counsel for Mr Pirzada, alleged that the Punjab Government had not deliberately provided 12 letters/documents relevant to the investigations. Mr Pirzada had in a letter written to the Chief Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill, sought copies of as many as 12 documents, to clarify certain allegations mentioned in the complaints against him. Mr Goel said that Mr Pirzada had stated that since he had relinquished charge as Managing Director of the Punjab State Electronics Development Corporation two years ago, he had no access to the official records. Counsel also pointed out that the FIR had been registered only yesterday and the officer was arrested today. |
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