Former Punjab Police Inspector's assets worth Rs 1 cr attached by ED
Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Jun, 2023 10:23 AM
New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that they have attached immovable property worth Rs 1 crore belonging to former Punjab Police Inspector Inderjit Singh, along with a fixed deposit of Rs 32.42 lakh, in connection with a money laundering investigation.
The ED initiated a Prevention of Money Laundering Act investigation, based on an FIR and charge sheet filed by the Punjab Polce's Special Task Force against Inderjit Singh and others under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, Arms Act, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
"Singh had arrested a drug smuggler in an NDPS case. He then exerted pressure on the accused's family through his associates. Later, he acquired ownership of the accused's residential house in the name of a relative of his accomplice. In exchange, Singh promised to assist in securing bail," an ED official said.
Further investigation revealed that Singh also received illegal gratification of Rs 39 lakh in cash from the smuggler's family members through his accomplice, to avoid filing another case against the smuggler and his family under the NDPS Act.
The attached immovable property mentioned above was directly acquired by Singh as a result of the scheduled offense.
Additionally, proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 39 lakh in cash were generated by Singh as illegal gratification.
"Therefore, the ED has attached movable property in the form of a fixed deposit of Rs 32.42 lakh as an equivalent value in lieu of the 'Proceeds of Crime' generated in cash and the immovable property located in Amritsar as direct 'Proceeds of Crime'," the agency official said.
The accused were identified as Mohd. Danish (33) and Danish alias Raja (30), both residents of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. Police have also recovered five high end luxury cars and SUVs from the possession of the accused.
The cause of the provocation is yet to be ascertained, an official told IANS, adding the situation is under control. Videos of the ruckus were viral on the social media. Many parked vehicles and a nearby police station was pelted on with stones.
The court had, on March 4, extended Sisodia's CBI custody for two days and listed his bail plea for March 10 and in the last two days, the CBI questioned him with key witnesses -- former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna and former excise department secretary C. Arvind -- in this case, who recorded their statements in front of a magistrate.
A police official said that the two men, wearing masks, entered the bank branch at around 9.45 a.m. when only three employees were present there, and threatened the staff with a pistol. They forced the staff to open the vault where Rs 10 lakh was kept and fled with the money by 10.30 am.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the arrangements for the mega event here, said Punjab is fully ready to host the sessions and asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the working sessions slated to take place at the holy city of Amritsar next week.
The arrested customers have been identified as Anil, Rajan, Sagir, Abhishek and Harish. The house belongs to one Neeraj Bhati. Police recovered six mobile phones, Rs 2,100 in cash and objectionable items from their possession.
