The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Punjab Police AIG Ashish Kapoor, a PPS officer, for illegally creating immovable and movable expensive properties beyond his known sources of income in Chandigarh and Mohali cities during the last five years. A corruption case has been registered against him and his wife, Kamal Kapoor, after the allegations of acquiring unaccounted assets were proven in a vigilance enquiry.
Accused Ashish Kapoor was brought from Central Jail Patiala on a production warrant and presented in the Mohali court. The Vigilance Bureau has been granted a three-day police remand for further questioning.
Disclosing this here on Wednesday, a spokesperson of the VB stated that FIR number 21, dated May 30, 2023, has been registered against the said police officer and his wife Kamal Kapoor under Section 13 (1) (b), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and under Section 120-B of the IPC at the VB police station, flying squad-1, Punjab, Mohali.
The spokesperson informed that during the investigation, it was discovered that between August 1, 2017, and August 31, 2022, the accused had acquired unaccounted expensive immovable and movable assets in his name and his wife Kamal Kapoor in Chandigarh and Mohali cities, which had a market price much higher than the registered price. It is worth mentioning that this police officer had served in various districts of Punjab and the prison department besides Vigilance Bureau.
Giving further details, the spokesperson mentioned that in 2020, Ashish Kapoor purchased a residential corner plot, Plot Number 2010, measuring 507.5 square yards, in sector-88, Mohali, for Rs. 90,16,100. On the said plot, a luxurious two-storied house with modern amenities was constructed between 2020 and 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,00,00,000. Similarly, in 2022, he bought a residential plot, Plot Number 397, in 'The Palm' colony, New Chandigarh, Mohali, measuring 241.11 square yards, for Rs. 34,13,663. Additionally, a three-room flat, House Number 2021 in Block Number-B of Sector 63, Chandigarh, was purchased for Rs. 20,41,65,400.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Ashish Kapoor's wife holds a 1/3 share in a company called 'Laavin Packaging Private Limited,' with an investment of Rs. 15,00,000. Ashish Kapoor had also spent lakhs of rupees on foreign trips with his family and led a luxurious lifestyle. Additionally, during the investigation period, around 10 bank accounts were found existing in the names of Ashish Kapoor, Ashish Kapoor & Sons (HUF), and his wife Kamal Kapoor, with deposits totaling approximately Rs. 65,00,000.
Based on the fixed investigation period, it was discovered that Ashish Kapoor, Ashish Kapoor & Sons (HUF), and his wife Kamal Kapoor had a total income of Rs. 2,44,64,871 from their all known sources, while their total expenditure during the same period amounted to Rs. 5,60,91,650. Thus, they had spent Rs. 3,16,26,779 more, which accounted for 129.3 percent of their total income. On the basis of the evidence obtained during the said investigation, the Bureau has registered a corruption case against him and his wife arrested the officer. Further investigation in this case was under progress, he added.