CBI files DA case against ex-chief of drug body

New Delhi: The CBI has registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case against former chairman of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) Chandra Prakash Singh. The agency has also booked Mr Singh’s wife, son and two daughters in connection with the case.  

There are allegations that Mr Singh (a 1981 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, who retired on June 30, 2014) acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. “While working as public servant in various capacities, including chairman NPPA, he had allegedly acquired assets both movable and immovable in his name and in the name of his family members beyond his know sources of income by corrupt and illegal means by abusing his official position as a public servant,” said the agency in its FIR against Mr Singh.

“There are allegations that Mr Singh and his family members acquired assets worth Rs 9.85 crore. The assets included eight plots in Lucknow, one plot in Sriperumbudur, two flats in Kalkaji (New Delhi) and one in Gurugram (Haryana). Apart from acquiring immovable assets, Mr Singh also made huge investments in two Greater Noida-based private firms,” said the FIR. Besides, it is suspected that the accused public servant made investment in a Jaipur-based private firm also, sources in the agency said.

The CBI has registered the case against Mr Singh and his family members under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI sleuths have also freezed Mr Singh’s bank accounts and are scrutinising details related

to other investments made by him, sources said.