Chandigarh, June 3 (IANS): The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday demanded the arrest and custodial interrogation of the Dera Baba Nanak-based producer of spurious seeds that had created havoc in Punjab.

It demanded a detailed probe into the role of the Lok Insaaf Party in the Rs 4,000 crore seed scam after the arrest of one of its senior leaders by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

In a statement here, senior party leaders Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Maheshinder Singh Grewal said it was shocking that the SIT had still not found it fit to arrest the proprietor of Karnal Agri Seeds, Lucky Dhillon, whose involvement in the scam had come to light on May 11.

They said it was strange that even the SIT, which had been formed after the SAD raised the issue, had not proceeded against Dhillon despite the fact that he had supplied spurious seeds to Brar Seeds whose proprietor had been arrested.

"There is clear conclusive evidence in the form of bill receipts seized from Brar Seeds premises as well as the statement given by the accused that he had received the spurious seeds from Karnal Agri Seeds."

Both Dhillon and Grewal said it appeared the SIT was not proceeding against Karnal Agri Seeds due to political patronage being provided to its owner Dhillon by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

"It is increasingly becoming clear the minister has provided shelter to the accused at a safe house and that is why the SIT has been unable to arrest him. We demand Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should hand over the probe to the CBI or the high court so that Lucky Dhillon can be arrested and interrogated immediately," they said in a statement.

The Akali leaders said the arrest of Lok Insaaf Party senior leader Baljinder Singh Bhundri in the scam also proved that there were wider ramifications to the scam.