The UT booth allotment scam is likely to spell more trouble for Union Railway Minister and Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, who is already embroiled in Railway Board bribery scandal.
The much-hyped UT booth allotment scam brushed under the carpet by the higher authorities may soon have heads rolling.
Sources in the Administration said, "The inquiry report of booth allotment scam is likely to be sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by the Administration by the end of this month."
"At present, the UT Estate Office is compiling the details of people found guilty in the scam. The Estate Office has already scrutinised the report and is now preparing details of action taken on the report," said sources.
The MHA had sought inquiry report of the booth allotment scam from the UT Administration last year.
Notably, the booth allotment scam has been inquired several times by the UT Administration, yet it has not reached its logical end.
In the past two years, the UT Administration has conducted several rounds of inquiry, recorded statements of complainants and officials, and also announced cancellation of allotment of eight booths after the scam.
The UT booth allotment scam had unfolded in February 2011 and the report had indicted Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and others. The financial dimensions of the fraudulent allotments ran into crores of rupees that included money paid to politicians, police officials and officers of the Estate Office.
Following complaints of irregularities in booth allotment in Sector-41, UT Administrator Shivraj Patil had ordered a magisterial probe by PCS officer PS Shergill in March 2010.
Shergill, in his 700-page report, had revealed that nearly 90 shops in Krishna Market were allotted against the rules. Considering the inquiry conducted by former ADC PS Shergill as "not all-inclusive", the Administration had decided to carry out another "detailed" inquiry.
later, former UT assistant estate officer Hargunjit Kaur had submitted her report prepared on the basis of Shergill's report, to the Deputy Commissioner.
The UT Administration was often in the eye of the storm for not taking action against influential people indicted in the inquiry report of the scam.
As the UT booth allotment scam involves a large number of influential people, including politicians, bureaucrats and police officials, the Administration is moving cautiously and is reportedly taking no chances.
Even as there seems little hope of action against politicians and bureaucrats, the report is likely to provide the Opposition with welcome ammunition to launch a scathing attack on Congress and Bansal once again on the issue.
The issue of alleged involvement of Bansal in the booth allotment scam had also rocked both Houses of Parliament in March 2011. Bansal's resignation from the seat was also demanded by the BJP at that time.