Chandigarh, August 13:
Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) attached four properties situated at Ludhiana of Rakesh Kumar Singla, Former Deputy Director of Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Department Punjab, and his wife Rachna Singla. This action was taken on the Ad Interim Attachment orders passed by the Court of Dr. Ajit Attri Special Judge, Ludhiana on August 8, 2023.
Notably, a case FIR no. 11 dated 16-08-2022 under sections 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120 B of IPC and 7, 8, 12, 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against former Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, his close associate Rakesh Kumar Singla and others at Police Station VB, Ludhiana Range in connection with illegal allotment of Labour, Cartage Tenders to the various contractors for the year 2020-21. The accused Rakesh Kumar Singla has been declared PO on 03.12.2022 and Red Corner Notice has also been issued against him.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Rakesh Kumar Singla had purchased number of properties during his posting in the department and while holding charge as Chairman of Central Vigilance Committee (CVC ) of Food Supply Department.
During the investigation, the VB found that Rakesh Kumar Singla had purchased five properties including a Plot (298/66 sq. yards) at Abadi Guru Amardas Nagar Ludhiana, two plots of 150 sq. yards each at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar Ludhiana, a House no 164-A (area 300 sq. yards) at Rajguru Nagar Ludhiana and a Flat (area 193.60 Sq. yards) no. 304, Category-A, Second floor, RCS Punjab Cooperative Society, Gazetted Officers, Sector 48-A, Chandigarh. All these five properties were purchased by him in the name of his wife Rachna Singla during the period from 01-04-2011 to 31-07-2022. Out of these, four properties situated at Ludhiana have been attached.
In this regard, a separate criminal case of Disproportionate Assets bearing FIR no 8 dated 19.04.2023 under sections 13(1) (b), 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B of IPC at Police Station VB, Ludhiana Range was registered against both Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife Rachna Singla and they both are absconding in this case, he added.
During the check period from 01-04-2011 to 31-07-2022, he said that the income of Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife Rachna Singla was Rs. 2,59,68,952 against the expenditure of Rs. 4,43,87,182, which was 70.92 per cent (Rs. 1,84,18,230) more than his known sources of income.
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*VB traces six more properties*
During the investigation of the case, the spokesperson said that Punjab VB has traced six more properties purchased by Rakesh Singla in the name of his wife Rachna and son Swaraj Singla. Five properties include Vasika 1179/30.6.21 (area 95.51 sq yrd), Vasika 1180/30.6.21 (area 98.47 sq yrd), Vasika 1181/30.6.21 (area 121.51 sq yrd), Vasika 1182/30.6.21 (area 98.47 sq yrd), Vasika 1183/30.6.21 (area 98.51 sq yrd) are situated at Celebration Bazaar, GT Road Khanna in Ludhiana district. A SCO measuring 79.04 sq mtr was purchased on 02/05/2013 in the name of Rachna Singla in New Chandigarh. The accused has been receiving around Rs 2 lakh rent per month from all these six properties.
The process to attach remaining seven properties will be initiated after completion of legal formalities, he added.
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| Gurbani World