Former minister and Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu was sent to Police remand till Saturday, August 27.

The Vigilance Bureau had arrested him in the foodgrains transportation tenders scam on Monday.

The case pertains to the allotment of transportation tenders allegedly on the basis of fake registration numbers of vehicles. Meanwhile, Congress workers also protested outside the Vigilance Bureau office in Ludhiana over his arrest.

A spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau claimed that accused contractor Telu Ram has already been arrested in this and is on police remand.

During the investigation by the Vigilance Bureau, accused Telu Ram submitted that he met Bharat Bhushan Ashu through his PA Meenu Malhotra for getting tenders for the season 2020-21 who further told him to meet Rakesh Kumar Singla, Deputy Director Food and Civil Supplies.

"The accused Telu Ram has informed the VB that when he met RK Singla, he demanded Rs 30 Lakh on behalf of the former minister and on different days he has given the bribes to RK Singla Rs 20 lakh, PA Menu Malhotra Rs 6 lakh and money to officers," said the Vigilance Bureau.

The spokesperson added that on the basis of revelations as well as the material evidence above mentioned persons and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been nominated as accused in this case.