Two months after joining Bhagwant Mann’s Cabinet, Fauja Singh Sarari, Minister for Freedom Fighters, Defence Services Welfare, Food Processing and Horticulture, has been embroiled in controversy over his leaked audio with Tarsem Lal Kapoor, his close aide.
According to the audio clip that has gone viral on social media, the minister talks about trapping contractors involved in food grain transportation with government officials, to extort money from them, while the trucks are half loaded. The contractors are also heard saying that it is tedious to get the DRO copy from them since it is issued 15 days before loading the material. In the clip, they say, “I don’t think the contractors will have the copy and then they’ll come to them right away.”
They are also allegedly talking about the DSFC and how he gets his commission in this. In addition, both of them are discussing the fact that truck drivers or owners should not be arrested while contractors go scot-free. According to sources, Tarsem Lal Kapoor and his nephew, Jonny Kapoor, were handling all the work in the minister’s absence since he was inducted into the Cabinet, but Sarari disassociated himself from them on Saturday after the latter was booked by the police for misusing his car flag. In the following days, Tarsem shared a series of videos on social media.
In an interview with mediapersons on Sunday, Sarari claimed Tarsem asked him to assist Jonny, but he refused. I am therefore being accused of false accusations. As for the audio, it is edited as well.”
As the CM had earlier sacked Health Minister Vijay Singla for alleged corruption charges in a similar case in the first six months of the Mann government, this is the second time an AAP minister has been accused of corruption in the first six months of the Mann government.
