SUMEDH SINGH SAINI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The matter is taken up for hearing through video conference due to COVID-19 situation.

(2.) The prayer in the present petition is for grant of anticipatory bail in FIR No. 13 dtd. 2/8/2021, under Ss. 13(l)(b) read with Sec. 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 [as amended Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018] and Ss. 109 and 120-B IPC, registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Phase-I, Punjab at Mohali, District SAS Nagar.

(3.) The present FIR arises from vigilance enquiry No. 3 dtd. 17/12/2020. The enquiry was initiated against Nimrat Deep Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&M) Department [hereinafter referred to as 'Al'] and his father-Surinderjit Singh Jaspal [hereinafter referred to as 'A2'], retired Lecturer from Government College Gurdaspur. The basis of enquiry was amassing of disproportionate assets by Al than his known sources of income. There were thirty-five properties owned by Al and his family. They were having twenty-two bank accounts with balance of more than Rs.4,80,00,000.00, fixed deposits of more than Rs. l 1,18,00,000/- and foreign currency of about Rs.2,12,00,000.00, amount of Rs.10,00,00,000.00was spent through bank on different expenditures and some of the properties were exchanged. A2 sold the land to WWICS Estates Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'WWICS') showing himself to be the owner, whereas the land was in the name of Surinderjit Singh and Sons (HUF) through Karta-Surinderjit Singh Jaspal. During the probe in FIR No. 11, dtd. 17/9/2020, it was revealed that A2 purchased House No. 3048, Sector 20-D, Chandigarh with the money received from WWICS. The allegations are that the sale consideration was less than the Collector's rates fixed. After demolition, the house was re-constructed. For re-construction, the amounts received from WWICS and from the petitioner from August, 2018 to September, 2019 were utilized.