Kapurthala cop amassed properties worth crores in travel business sans licence

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sarabjit Singh (56) posted in the Kapurthala Police Lines, who was arrested by the Crime Branch, Ludhiana, from Nadala, Kapurthala, on Saturday in connection with the Rs 1.40-crore travel fraud case, has amassed property worth several crores in the past several years.

Besides policing, the policeman, along with his brother Daljit Singh, had been running a travel business committing fraud with foreign aspirants.

Now, the police have started making a list of properties amassed by the ASI, along with his brother, in the past years. Jagat Joshi, a resident of the city, is also a partner in the crime. The police may attach the properties amassed from proceeds of the illegal money.

A video, which is with The Tribune, clearly shows the ASI, with other accomplices, taking money from the complainant. The video was also given to the police as evidence by the complainant.

Crime Branch in-charge inspector Beant Juneja told The Tribune here on Sunday that after the Crime Branch got a lead about whereabouts of the ASI, a raid was conducted at his farmhouse in Nadala from where he was arrested. Raids were also on to nab his brother and another suspect, who were at large in the case.

Juneja said the policeman, along with his brother, had been running the travel business without possessing any licence. His brother was the one who used to remain in the forefront to strike visa deals while the ASI used to play his role while staying behind closed doors. In the probe, they found that the policeman’s brother had a criminal background as several cases were already filed against him.

“The police investigation has found that the two brothers have amassed benami properties worth several crores. Even the ASI was arrested from his farmhouse in Nadala, which is one of the prime assets made from the illegal money. They had amassed huge wealth and properties, including five luxury cars, including a Range Rover, Mercedes and BMW, and around 40 acres of land and a luxurious house from the illegal business in the past few years. Their bank accounts are also being checked, “the Crime Branch in-charge said.

Now, the Ludhiana police will write to the Kapurthala police about the arrest of the ASI in the fraud case.

The case

The matter pertains to 2023 but a case has been lodged now, following which the ASI was arrested on Saturday. The video of the ASI counting cash with his accomplices has gone viral. The video was shared by RTI activist Manik Goyal. The suspects in the case are Daljit Singh of Nadala, his brother ASI Sarabjit Singh and Jai Jagat Joshi of Ludhiana. Devinderpal Singh Kang of Moga had paid them Rs 90 lakh to take his son Akashbir Kang and his family of four to the US.

The suspects had initially asked Kang to pay them Rs 90 lakh but sent him to Dubai and El Salvador instead. They extorted an amount of Rs 50 lakh more by threatening the family. Bholath Congress MLA Khaira has demanded that the ASI’s brother should be arrested so that justice could be served and the youth of the state can be protected from such frauds. There are reports that the ASI’s brother, who is on the run, has nearly nine more FIRs filed against him.

Ludhiana