ED attaches former Punjab IAS officer's assets worth Rs 97 L

New Delhi, March 25: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 97 lakh in connection with a money laundering probe against a former IAS officer in the Bhagat Singh birth centenary celebrations embezzlement case in 2008 in Punjab.

"The agency has attached assets worth Rs 97 lakh of Dr Swarn Singh, IAS, in the said case. This includes both movable and immovable assets," the agency said. The ED registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe alleged financial irregularities in the 2008 event held in the freedom fighter's native village in Khatkar Kalan and other places in the state, based on a 2011 FIR of Punjab's vigilance bureau.

After allegations were raised of financial irregularities, the Punjab government had announced a Vigilance Bureau probe.

It had revealed that an alleged embezzlement of about Rs one crore had taken place from the Centre's grant for holding the celebrations while event organiser Punjab Arts Council (PAC) claims to have spent Rs 3.05 crore on the function.

The opposition Congress had then alleged that fake bills of Rs 3.5 crore were used. An attachment order under PMLA is aimed at depriving the accused from obtaining benefits of their alleged ill-gotten wealth. The accused can appeal against the order before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.

PTI