Vigilance attaches ill-gotten properties of ex-Dy Director Singla, kin in graft cases

Eight properties and bank accounts belonging to former Deputy Director of the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department, Rakesh Kumar Singla, his wife Rachna Singla and their sons Swaraj Singla and Siddarth Singla have been attached by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB).

The action involving properties and amounts worth crores of rupees was taken following a court order in connection with ongoing criminal cases against them.

A spokesperson for the Punjab Vigilance Bureau said the attachment order was issued by a Ludhiana court in a case titled ‘State versus Rakesh Kumar Singla and others,” regarding an FIR registered on April 19, 2023, under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the IPC.

The attached properties are situated at Khanna, Sector 48 A in Chandigarh, Mullanpur and SAS Nagar. Additionally, the bureau has attached bank balance amounting to Rs 1,08,44,785 received by Rachna Singla as rental returns from these properties as well as rent amounts of Rs 14,32,992 and Rs 16,25,088 received by Swaraj and Siddarth, respectively, from other properties.

The VB said the court, in its order dated September 15, has restrained the suspect and their legal heirs/attorneys from transferring or mortgaging these properties during the pendency of the case. The action is part of the broader probe into allegations that Rakesh amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure.

Investigation had revealed that Singla was allegedly involved in a criminal conspiracy case earlier highlighted in an FIR registered on August 16, 2022, vide which he was accused of corruption and embezzlement.

The investigation further revealed that he illegally purchased properties in the names of his family members using proceeds from corruption. Singla and his wife were declared proclaimed offenders as they had been evading law- enforcing agencies.