Ludhiana City Centre Scam: CM Amarinder Singh not guilty, says VB

The Vigilance Bureau (VB) in its closure report has reportedly stated that Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh never had any ill-intention in the execution of Rs 1,144 crore Ludhiana City Centre project. The closure report was out on Saturday, as per sources. It further stated that, "there is no proof or fact to substantiate any scam in the project and that there is no proof of any bribe money exchanged between the representatives of the private firm, Today Homes, and any government official at the Hotel Park Plaza of Ludhiana." Also read: AgustaWestland scam accused Ratul Puri sent to ED Remand for six days The VB Probe report According to official reports, the Vigliance Bureau submitted the probe report 10 years after the FIR was filed. The VB report stated that Captain Amarinder Singh has pointed out the irregularities in the project from time to time, keeping in view the welfare of the people and have also corrected them. He has followed the law at every step. Further, no proof has been found of any bribery. It has been mentioned thrice in the report that Ludhiana City Centre was a huge project and that the LIT Chairman Pramjit Singh Sibia did not have a proper knowledge on how to handle the project. The report concluded by saying that all the allegations against Captain Amarinder Singh are fictional and doubtful. Also read: QNET Scam: Republic accesses SFIO report of 2012. Details here Ludhiana City Centre Scam During Captain Amarinder Singh's previous term (2002-2007), the government envisaged Rs 1,144 crore project to develop a mall, a multiplex, leisure parks and other commercial hubs with a rooftop helipad on Pakhowal Road of Ludhiana. In 2007, the Vigilance Bureau registered a case against 36 persons which included Amarinder Singh and his son, Raninder Singh on March 23, 2007. According to reports, Singh and others were allegedly favouring a Delhi-based company called 'Today Home' for executing the real estate project that violated the norms. The accused were booked under the Prevention of the Corruption Act, and several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Also read: QNET: Massive crackdown by Cyberabad Police, scam as big as Rs 5000 cr A charge sheet was filed on December 12, 2007 but the court did not frame any charges against the accused. The case was adjourned over the last 10 years. The closure report is completely contradicting its previous report. According to the vigilance report, the investigation was not carried out properly and hence, a re-investigation has been done. During the first tenure of Captain Amarinder Singh, the case kept troubling him as the Vigilance Bureau constantly argued in the court against him. Also read: Chopper scam: Willing to join probe, Ratul Puri tells court, seeks cancellation of NBW

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Ludhiana City Centre Scam: CM Amarinder Singh not guilty, says VB

The VB in its closure report has reportedly said that CM Captain Amarinder Singh never had any ill-intention in the execution of Ludhiana city centre project.

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