The Tribune, December 18, 1998
Ex-minister booked for corruption
Tribune News Service
HISAR, Dec 17 — The Hansi police has registered a case on corruption charges against a former minister Mr Amar Singh Dhanak for allegedly accumulating wealth disproportionate to known sources of his income.
Police sources said a Deputy Superintendent of Police will conduct investigation into this case. Mr Dhanak, who was the Public Works Minister in the Bhajan Lal's cabinet lost elections to Mr Jagan Nath from Bhawani Khera. He subsequently resigned from the Congress and joined the then Samajwadi Party of Mr Om Parkash Chautala, that now has been rechristened the Indian National Lok Dal.
This is the second time a case against any minister from Hansi under the Corruption Act has been framed. Earlier Mr Amir Chand Makkar of the Congress was also booked under the same act.
Police sources claimed that Mr Dhanak had accumulated huge moveable and immovable property disproportionate to the known sources of his income, by misusing his official position as the PWD Minister in Bhajan Lal's cabinet.
The sources claimed that Mr Dhanak owned a spacious kothi in Panchkula, one in Hansi, besides owning hundreds of acres of land in Gherai, village, Siwani and a couple of other villages. He also owns one luxury Contessa car, one Maruti Zen, besides two other types of cars. Most of the property is said to be registered as "benami". Mr Dhanak also owns a gas agency in Chandigarh.
Mr Dhanak was said to be in Delhi. Repeated attempts to contact him proved futile. However, his supporters claimed that the case framed against him was politically motivated and alleged that the government was resorting to witch-hunting. They alleged there were so many sitting ministers against whom there were serious allegations of corruption, but the government had not ordered any investigation against them.
Meanwhile the police has registered an FIR against Mr Dhanak in Hansi police station. The FIR was filed after confidential reports on the assets owned by Mr Dhanak were received.
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