CHANDIGARH – Contrary to Punjab Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s claims that those awarded mining contracts in Nawanshahr and Mohali were his former employees, not only the minister but his entire family was in business with all four companies in which his cook Amit Bahadur and another employee Balraj Singh were directors.
Documents with The Tribune reveal that Rana Gurjit got loans and advances totalling Rs 25 crore from the four companies in which Amit Bahadur and Balraj Singh were directors.
In response to a report published in The Tribune in this regard (May 25), Rana Gurjit had said the two were his former employees and that they had quit in April. The mines were auctioned on May 19 and 20.
Amit Bahadur and Balraj Singh were joint directors in three companies — Flawless Traders Private Limited, Century Agros Private Limited and RJ Texfab Private Limited. Also, Balraj Singh was one of the directors in Rana Sugar & Power Private Limited. After the controversy, both quit the companies, except RJ Texfab Private Limited.
Till March this year, Rana Gurjit owed Rs 16.22 crore to Flawless Traders, Rs 5.46 crore to RJ Texfab, Rs 1.75 crore to Century Agros and Rs 87 lakh to Rana Sugar & Power Private Limited. His family, including his wife Rajbans Kaur and sons Rana Inderpratap Singh and Rana Veer Pratap Singh, received crores as loan from the four companies. Rajbans Kaur obtained loans worth Rs 5.8 crore.
Century Agros Private Ltd extended a loan worth crores in 2014-15 and 2015-16 mainly to individuals and firms linked to the minister and his family members. In 2014, Rana Gurjit received a loan of Rs 1.75 crore in five instalments from the company in one week (October 11 to 17).
In 2014-15, the minister received a loan of Rs 4.49 crore from RJ Texfab, his son Rana Inderpratap Singh got Rs 2.35 crore and his other son Rana Veer Pratap Singh Rs 1.5 crore. His wife received a loan of Rs 40 lakh from the company. Lakshmi Ji Sugar Mill Company, Venus Pesticides and Rana Polycot Ltd too were given loans by the companies headed by the minister’s employees.
