Vigilance Bureau arrests Anurag Batra, an accomplice of deputy director RK Singla accused in food grains scam

Chandigarh September 19, 2024 -

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has apprehended accused Anurag Batra, distributer of firm namely Batra Pharmaceuticals, who was an accomplice of Rakesh Kumar Singla, a proclaimed offender (PO), former Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department Punjab, for exchanging his ill-gotten money into white. He has been sent for one day police remand by the Ludhiana court today.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said during investigation of case FIR No 11 dated 16.08.2022 under sections 409, 420, 467, ,468, 471, 120-B of IPC and under sections 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Ludhiana range registered against Bharat Bhushan Ashu, former Food and Civil Supplies Minister and others, it had came on record that aforementioned Deputy Director Singla had purchased 12 properties on his and his wife's name from unknown sources. He was later declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) in the above mentioned case.

Thereafter a case of disproportionate of assets was registered against against said Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife Rachna Singla under FIR No. 08 dated 19.04.2023 under section 13(1) (b) read with 13(2) under Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Ludhiana range.

He further informed that during the probe it had came on record that accused RK Singla had collected huge bribe money during his posting in the Food and Civil Supplies Department and in criminal connivance of his wife Rachna Singla, he had purchased number of properties in her name which are disproportionate to his known sources of income. The VB came to know that accused Singla had purchased 12 properties to the amount of 5 crore approximately. Out of these 12 properties, 4 properties are situated in City Ludhiana, 5 SCOs at Khanna, 01 at Chandigarh and 2 properties (SCOs) are at New Chandigarh in Mohali. He further added that proceedings under section 18A of Prevention of Corruption Act are under process in the Ludhiana court for attachment of all 12 properties.

The spokesperson informed that during investigation of above said case, it has also came on record that Anurag Batra, a resident of SCO 360, Sector 32D, Chandigarh had helped RK Singla by exchanging his black money into white money. He had transferred Rs 9,0,3450 lakh and 19,05750 lakh (Total Rs 28,09,200) in the bank account of said Rachna Singla during the year 2021. The accused Anurag Batra failed to submit plausible explaination as to what kind of help was rendered by Rachna Singla for getting 5 orders from Haryana Government. It has also been revealed by the accused Batra during investigation that on those days when money was transferred, she was at abroad and not in India. The spokesperson revealed that during the investigation, the said accused Batra has confessed his guilt and disclosed that one of his friend had him asked to make the black money of RK Singla into white. Further investigation was under progress, he said.

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