OBC scam: Punjab CM's son-in-law booked in Simbhaoli Sugar Mills fraud case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's son-in-law in connection with an alleged bank fraud case against Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd on Monday.

Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd is one of the largest sugar mills in the country. 

The bank had complained to the CBI on November 17, 2017, but the agency registered the case on February 22 this year.

A probe has been launched in two loans Rs 97.85 crore, which was declared fraud in 2015, and another corporate loan of Rs 110 crore, which was used to repay the previous loan.

Besides, Gurpal Singh, the son-in-law of Amarinder Singh, the CBI has booked 12 others including Simbhaoli Sugars' Chairman Gurmit Singh Mann, CEO G S C Rao, CFO Sanjay Tapriya, Executive Director Gursimran Kaur Mann and other company officials along with some unknown bank officials.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has hit out at Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the Congress.

"What do you expect from a Chief Minister who himself is embroiled in having black money abroad? The whole family is embroiled in scams. It isn't surprising. Its old habit of Congress," Harsimrat Kaur Badal told ANI.

The CBI today carried out searches at eight premises including residences of the directors, factory, corporate office and registered office of the company in Delhi, Hapur and Noida, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.

The probe focuses on two loans -- Rs 97.85 crore which was declared fraud in 2015 and another corporate loan of Rs 110 crore which was used to repay the previous loan.

The second loan was declared NPA on November 29, 2016, nearly 20 days after scrapping of Rs 1,000 and old Rs 500 notes was announced, according to the CBI FIR.

(With inputs from agencies)