Still counting: Akhand empire worth billions

There is no word yet on Singh’s arrest despite CBI Director U.S. Misra confirming yesterday that Singh was being questioned at the Delhi farmhouse.

Singh’s fetish for “gold and green” was on full display during CBI raids after PMO’s directives since yesterday at his palatial bungalow built over three plots in Lucknow’s posh Gomtinagar among other properties. From gold-plated taps and imported bathroom fittings, a stylish bar to green lawns spanning 5000 sqft, Singh believed in flaunting his taste and wealth. Three other houses in the locality belong to Singh.

In Lucknow, the sleuths unearthed four more residential plots and another built-up house in Gomti Nagar that was completed in 2003 besides the known six houses and a floriculture farm. Another three-hectare plot in Bakshi-Ka-Talab area near his floriculture farm worth almost Rs 21 lakh also came up. ‘‘ Also, Singh got a space booked in Eldeco Magnum Plaza in Lucknow in 2003 at a total advance payment of nearly Rs 38.5 lakh,’’ Mohanty said.

This is not all. CBI today discovered that Singh has a virtual property empire in New Delhi and Ghaziabad as well. CBI says Singh owns two flats in Ansal Plaza, HUDCO Place, at Rs 67 lakh that he acquired on the same date of November 1, 2000. Plus, he owns four flats in a row in Orchid Square, Sushant Lok, in Gurgaon. Also, Singh is owner of two shops (112/A-1, 112/A-2) in Ansal Trade Square, Vaishali, in Ghaziabad. Another property was found in Kalkaji while two plots were found in Singh’s name at Mehrauli village. This is in addition to two flats in Vasant Vihar and a farmhouse in Vasant Kunj detected yesterday.

What has left CBI officials flummoxed is Singh’s empire in the picturesque Bhimtal in Nainital. ‘‘ We have today recovered an agreement of Singh, dated September 1, 2004, with a company for construction of the building for an international fully-residential educational facility in Bhimtal at Rs 3.25 crore. Rs 30 lakhs has already been paid to the company through cheques,’’ said Mohanty.

The empire in Nainital now stands: three farmhouses, a bungalow, a guesthouse and at least four huge plots. Four plots totalling nearly 50 acre have been detected in Bhirva village in Bahraich.

Singh was also fond of stylish cars. CBI says he has a fleet of at least 13 vehicles including a Skoda Activa, GM Opel Astra, an imported Isuzu car, two Telco Tata 407.

As of now, CBI claims to have recovered Rs 36.5 lakh in cash, another Rs 38 lakh in bank accounts, Rs 8.5 lakh in Indira Vikas Patras and shares/debentures besides Rs 17.5 lakh-worth jewellery belonging to Singh and his family. ‘‘Computer records regarding other suspected heavy investments in fixed deposits are under scrutiny. Four lockers are still to be opened,’’ said Mohanty.

The CBI spokesman adds that documents indicating the personal net worth of Singh, his wife and two daughters at Rs 407.10 lakh as in December, 2004, have been found which were submitted for applying for a loan of Rs 13.63 crore from Allahabad Bank in Hazratganj, Lucknow.