Former Punjab DGP Virk arrested in disproportionate assets case

Chandigarh, Sep 9 (UNI) Former Punjab DGP S S Virk was today arrested by the State Vigilance Bureau (VB) from Delhi for allegedly amassing assets beyond his known sources of income.

The Bureau had registered a case against the former DGP at the VB police station in Mohali for allegedly amassing assets worth Rs 100 crore. The FIR mentions a benami property in Himachal Pradesh besides the famous Chimney Heights resort at Zirakpur and a plot in Mohali.

Mr Virk who was the state DGP during the tenure of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had denied the charges leveled against him.

''This is a clear case of vendetta by the present state government and I have been made a pawn in the political battle'', he said while talking to mediapersons after his arrival at Mohali alongwith the VB officals.

Mr Virk was taken into custody from Maharashtra Sadan in the national capital by a team lead by Vigilance SSP, Patiala, Shiv Kumar. He was later brought to Mohali where he was medically examined by a team of doctors at a government health centre.

According to reports, the doctors found Mr Virk suffering from high blood pressure and recommended that he be hospitalised. He is also believed to be a cancer patient.

He could not be presented before Duty Magistrate Lalit Singla this evening following his hospitalisation. There are indications that the Magistrate may be taken to the hospital for remanding the former DGP to one day police custody as per rules. Thereafter, the VB would apply for extension of police remand from a regular magistrate tomorrow.

VB sleuths questioned the former DGP about his assets. However, details of the interrogation were not avaliable.

A Vigilance team also raided the private residence of Mr Virk in Sector-27. The team however returned empty handed as the residence was found locked.

Mr Virk described his arrest against the service rules of the IPS cadre. He claimed that neither the Union Home Minister nor the Maharashtra government were informed of the case registered against him nor was permission taken for his arrest.

In a related incident, a Vigilance team also raided the Mota Singh Nagar residents of Sukhi, a former Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) militant in Jalandhar. Sukhi who had worked for the Punjab Police after his surrender is believed to have enjoyed the patronage of Mr Virk.

Bureau officials refused to comment on the raid on Sukhi's house.

Sukhi, however, managed to escape before the Vigilance team arrived and only his mother was in the house at the time of the raid.

(Eds here picking up from DR 57 of second lead of Virk series).

UNI