Ludhiana: Former Cabinet minister in Prakash Singh Badal government and Akali Dal MLA Jagdish Singh Garcha was on October 19 arrested in a corruption case by Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

A Bureau spokesman told reporters that a first information report (FIR) was lodged on October 18 against Garcha, former Technical Education Minister, and three others in connection with embezzlement of funds of Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jallandhar, during his tenure.

Raids were conducted at four premises of Garcha's family during which Rs 3.5 lakh cash and some incriminating documents were seized, spokesman said.

PTU director Amarjit Singh Garewal, another accused in the case, was arrested in Jallandhar, he said.

Both have been charged under Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Garcha has been taken to Jallandhar where he will be produced in a court later on October 19, he said.

The former minister's son Parminder Singh and former Vice-Chancellor of PTU, DR H S Gurm, are the others named in the FIR and police parties have been despatched to arrest them, the spokesman said.

Terming the arrest as a "political vendetta", the former minister's brother Mansingh Garch told reporters that the family was the leading trader in liquor and the seizure of Rs 3.5 lakh meant nothing as "our daily sales runs in lakhs".

PTI