The Hindu : New Delhi News : Court summons ex-UP Chief Secretary in graft case

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Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008
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Court summons ex-UP Chief Secretary in graft case

NEW DELHI: A special CBI court here on Tuesday issued summons against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Singh and 11 others, including his wife, for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets worth over Rs.2.8 crore.

Additional Sessions Judge R.K. Yadav, seeking the presence of the retired IAS officer and others in the Court on August 26, said there was “sufficient prima facie” evidence against the accused to proceed with the trial.

Apart from the 1967 batch IAS officer who has been accused by the Uttar Pradesh IAS Association of being one of the most corrupt bureaucrats, the CBI had charge-sheeted his two married daughters, former CBSE Chairman B. P. Khandelwal and others for allegedly aiding and abetting his corrupt activities.

Benami acquisitions

The 11 co-accused have been charged with conspiring and forging documents used for “benami” acquisitions on behalf of Akhand Pratap Singh. The CBI in its charge-sheet alleged that the former Chief Secretary acquired disproportionate assets amounting to Rs.2.88 crore during the period April 1982 to March 1998.

His relatives who have been charge-sheeted include two nieces of Singh’s wife and their husbands and a brother of Singh’s son-in-law.

Besides Khandelwal, his brother, who is a contractor with the Lucknow Development Authority and the Noida Development Authority, and the managing director of a public limited sugar mill in Moradabad district of UP, have also been charge-sheeted.

A total of 40 immovable properties located in New Delhi, Lucknow, Behraich and Nainital worth Rs 1.83 crore, allegedly acquired “benami” names, were found to be owned by Singh. - PTI

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