Punjab foodgrain tender scam: HC grants bail to Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu; FIR quashed

Punjab foodgrain tender scam: : In a significant relief to Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail in the money laundering case related to the Punjab tender scam. The court also quashed the FIR registered against him. Ashu, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 1, had been in jail since his arrest following questioning at the ED office in Jalandhar.

The case involves allegations of fraud and manipulation of grain transportation tenders in Punjab. In 2022, a group of transport owners and contractors accused Ashu of helping select contractors benefit from the tenders, resulting in fraudulent transactions worth crores. The matter was reported to the Vigilance Bureau, leading to investigations by the ED.

As part of the investigation, the ED seized properties worth Rs 22.78 crore across various parts of Punjab, including Ludhiana, Mohali, Khanna, and other areas. These assets included immovable properties, fixed deposits, gold jewellery, and bank accounts linked to the accused.

Bharat Bhushan Ash had earlier spent nearly six months in Patiala jail during the investigation. The Vigilance Bureau had first registered a case in August 2022, targeting contractors like Telo Ram and others involved in the scam. Ashu's name was later added to the case. In a dramatic turn of events, Ashu was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau while getting a haircut at a Ludhiana salon.

Investigations revealed that vehicles involved in transporting grain had fake license plates, many of which belonged to scooters and motorcycles—vehicles unsuitable for such operations. This prompted the ED to register a money laundering case against Ashu and others involved.