The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations of two IAS officers – Varun Roojam and Rajesh Dhiman.
The raids were conducted in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged guava orchards compensation “scam”, official sources said.
Varun Roojam, a 2004-batch IAS is currently serving as the Excise and Taxation Commissioner of Punjab while Rajesh Dhiman, a 2014 batch IAS, is serving as deputy commissioner of Ferozepur. Apart from that, ED teams also searched residences of chartered accountant Anil Arora in Patiala. He and his wife are accused in the guava orchard scam.
Moreover, IAS Varun Roojam is also under ED's radar for implementing Delhi Excise policy in Punjab after the Bhagwant Singh Mann government formed in the state. Wives of both the IAS officers are accused in the embezzlement case registered by Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The searches are still on as per the reports.
How Varun Roojam and Rajesh Dhiman allegedly linked with Guava scam?
The ₹130 crore scam is related to fraudulence in order to get higher compensation by misusing the chair and its authority.
According to officials, it is alleged that Varun Roojam had invested in this orchard under the persuasion of the then ACA GMADA Rajesh Dhiman. Both the officers allegedly received higher compensation in the names of their wives.
The scam was being investigated by the state Vigilance Bureau. More than 21 people have been arrested in the scam till now.
The Vigilance Bureau has so far arrested a total of 21 accused persons, including beneficiaries and public servants such as JS Johal, LAC, Vaishali, HDO, Bachitar Singh, Patwari, etc. Eventually, some beneficiaries were granted anticipatory bail upon their offer to deposit 100 percent of the compensation amount, as ordered by the High Court, while other accused have also begun to seek similar treatment.
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