2 weeks Ago By Payal Dhawan
Ludhiana: Pharmaceutical firm distributor Anurag Batra , who has been arrested by Punjab Vigilance Bureau for helping foodgrain scam accused R K Singla with money laundering activities, also provided medicines to the Punjab government. Singla, who has been declared PO, is former deputy director, food and civil supplies department. Vigilance inquiry found that Batra allegedly made bank transactions amounting to about Rs 40 lakh in Singla’s wife’s account in 2013 and 2021.
The VB said that these transactions were mentioned in the ITR (income tax return). Batra claimed that Singla’s wife Rachna, who is also wanted by the VB, secured medicine distribution deals for him, however, this could not be confirmed during investigation. On August 16, 2022, an FIR was filed against former food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station, Ludhiana range.
Singla was nominated in the case. Investigation revealed that he had purchased 12 properties in his and his wife's name from unknown sources. After Singla left the country, he was declared proclaimed offender (PO) in the case.
On April 19, 2023, a disproportionate assets case was filed against Singla and his wife under section 13(1) (b) read with 13(2) under Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Ludhiana range. A VB official told TOI, “Anurag Batra is a big name in the pharmaceutical distribution market. He provides medicines to the Punjab government and therefore has good contacts.
The probe found that in 2013, Anurag Batra transferred Rs 10 lakh into the bank account of Rachna Singla in two transactions. In 2021, he transferred about Rs 28 lakh into Rachna’s bank account in two separate transactions. Batra claimed that Rachna helped him get five deals of medicine distribution, for which he gave her a share in profit.
However, he could not produce any document to support the claim.” The official claimed that Batra confessed during questioning and said that a friend had asked him to cover Singla’s financial embezzlement tracks. Investigations also revealed that R K Singla collected a large amount of bribe money during his posting in the food and civil supplies department, for which he colluded with his wife.
He purchased a number of properties in her name, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The VB came to know that the accused had purchased 12 properties worth around Rs 5 crore. Of these, four properties are based in Ludhiana city, five SCOs are in Khanna, one in Chandigarh and two in New Chandigarh, Mohali.
He added that proceedings under Section 18A of the Prevention of Corruption Act for attachment of the properties are underway in the Ludhiana court..
