Red Corner Notice to CBI, Interpol issued to arrest absconding officer
B.S. Bajwa , Ludhiana, April 19 :2023
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has registered a disproportionate assets case against Rakesh Kumar Singla, former Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab along with his wife Rachna Singla for creating wealth than his known sources of income. Besides this, process has been initiated by the VB to issue red corner notice against the absconding Singla and a letter has been sent to CBI and Interpol New Delhi in this regard.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said during investigation of FIR No 11 dated 16-08-2022 registered at vigilance bureau police station Ludhiana range in connection with a tender allotment scam worth crores of rupees in the Food and Civil Supplies Department, it was transpired that that above said prime accused Rakesh Kumar Singla, who was also chairman of departmental vigilance cell, had collected huge bribe money during his posting and had acquired number of properties.
He further informed that during the probe it was found that the accused had acquired and was in possession of properties in his name as well as in the name of his wife Rachna Singla which are disproportionate to his known sources of income to the extent of Rs. 1.36,56,005 which comes to 58.97 percent.
The spokesperson further added that during the check period w.e.f. 01-04-2011 to 31-07-2022, the accused Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife had purchased 5 valuable properties and spent amount of Rs 3,68,15,757 while as their income was Rs 2,31,59,752 only. On the basis of VB enquiry a FIR No 8 dated 19-04-2023 has been registered against Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife Rachna Singla under section 13(1)(b), 13(2) under prevention of corruption act and section 120-B of IPC at VB police station Ludhiana range.
It is pertinent to mention here that Rakesh Kumar Singla was closely associated with former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and had demanded bribe of Rs 30 lakhs from Telu Ram contractor. The above said accused is also involved in FIR No 11/2022 and had received bribe of Rs 20 lakhs from Telu Ram in order to get the tenders allotted to his firm.
He further added that Rakesh Kumar Singla was absconding in the above mentioned case, and was declared proclaimed offender on 3.12.2022 by the Ludhiana court on the initiative of Vigilance Bureau. Besides this, in the said case the process of issuing Red Corner Notice against him was also initiated by VB and issued a letter to CBI and Interpol, New Delhi on 27.03.2023.