VB files fresh FIR against Sarabdyal in disproportionate assets case

The vigilance bureau (VB) has registered a fresh FIR against Sarabdyal Singh, the former personal assistant of former Punjab minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, in a disaproportionate assets case.

The vigilance bureau (VB) has registered a fresh FIR against Sarabdyal Singh, the former personal assistant of former Punjab minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, in a disaproportionate assets case.

HT Image

The VB has identified property worth Rs 1.5 crore belonging to Sarabdyal Singh, allegedly disproportionate to his sources of income.

"A fresh case has been registered as Sarabdyal had property more than his resources," Amritsar VB senior superintendent of police Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said. "We will seek his custody after bringing him on production warrant." Sarabdyal is currently in judicial custody.

The VB is investigating the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) embezzlement scam and the embezzlement of discretionary grants of former minister Ranike.

As Sarabdyal is the key accused in the embezzlement cases, the VB as part of its probe had raided his house in the past and other locations related to him.

The VB has found a house owned by Sarabdyal in Rani Ka Bagh, his share in a private school, a plot and some insurance policies.

During his stint as PA of Ranike, Sarabdyal had also been getting salary from the Punjab government. For this, Prevention of Corruption Act has been added in the earlier FIR registered against Sarabdyal.

Now as another FIR has been registered against him, the VB will further investigate into this. It is likely that more properties belonging to Sarabdyal comes to light.

Sarabdyal, along with his brother-in-law Harjit Singh, was nabbed by VB last month. After remaining in police custody for nine days, the court had sent Sarabdyal to judicial custody.