Probe over, CBI to file chargesheet against Akhand Pratap Singh

“We have got all the documents related to properties, submitted in various authorities, bank papers, and forged papers from the possession of the accused persons. Now, it’s the right time to file chargesheet against all the accused,” a source said.

The sources said they have details of all his properties – most of which are immovable assets acquired in the names of his family members, relatives, friends as well as some private limited companies. “The details of large number deposits in 100 bank accounts and investments in shares, debentures and luxury vehicles have also been recovered,” said the source.

Akhand Pratap Singh, who was chief secretary in the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime in UP, has cases of cheating, forgery and amassing disproportionate assets using his power filed against him since March, 2005. Singh was arrested on September 25, 2007 from his farmhouse in Vasant Kunj, allegedly part of his illegal assets, after the agency found that he was not cooperating in the investigations and was trying to influence witnesses and tamper evidences. Singh is presently out on bail.

The CBI had also arrested K M Khandelwal, a contractor with Noida development authority, and his brother B P Khandelwal, former chairman of CBSE, in the case.

Singh, who was UP’s 37th chief secretary, had held various sensitive positions in the UP Government and also in the Central Government. During its investigation, the CBI had also found that Singh had done large-scale forgery in documents, in collaboration with others, to procure these 85 properties. “He had even forged the signature of his father to open a bank account and had deposited illegally earned money in that account. He had eight properties in prime locations of Delhi and Lucknow, which he had transferred in the names of his daughters,” added an official.

Singh, a 1967-batch IAS officer who retired in 2003, had invested huge money in several private limited companies with his relatives, friends and family members, who were shown as promoters and directors of the companies. He is second chief secretary in a row to be caught in disproportionate assets case. Earlier, his predecessor D S Bagga was nailed and suspended in the multi-crore Taj Corridor scam.