Shimla, Oct 10,
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Nishant Sareen, Assistant Drug Controller of the Health Safety and Regulation Department.
A case of alleged disproportionate assets has been registered against Nishant Sareen. The Enforcement Directorate Shimla wing had summoned Sareen for questioning in the case. Following his arrest, Sareen was produced before the ED’s special court on Friday. In June this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chandigarh Zone conducted searches at seven residential, commercial premises, and government offices located in Haryana and Punjab belonging to Nishant Sareen, his family members, and associates.
Also read:ADC Nishant Sareen denies graft charges, explains asset seizures in ED raids
The searches were conducted in connection with a case related to Sareen’s misuse of official position for personal gain, corruption, and bribery while he was posted as Assistant Drug Controller, Baddi. Important drug licenses, clearances issued to pharmaceutical companies, property documents, and digital devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and pen drives, were also seized during the ED searches. During the search operation, two vehicles, over 40 bank accounts/FDRs, and three lockers belonging to Nishant Sareen and his family members worth approximately Rs 32 lakh were frozen. Furthermore, the ED recovered over 60 unaccounted liquor bottles from Sareen’s Omaxe Cassia residence in Chandigarh.
The Vigilance Bureau has registered a disproportionate assets case against Nishant Sareen. The Vigilance Bureau took this action following a partial investigation into an FIR alleging improper benefits from pharmaceutical companies. The investigation revealed that Nishant Sareen acquired assets worth 53.70% more than his known sources of income during the investigation period from April 1, 2002, to August 21, 2019. The total value of his assets was found to be Rs 2,50,19,322, of which Rs 1,66,05,470 was considered disproportionate to his known sources of income. Vigilance investigation has revealed that Nishant Sareen purchased a plot in Panthaghati in his name in March 2004 for Rs 3,10,000 and constructed a four-storey building. Its value has been estimated at Rs 51,15,005. He got his ancestral house in Diara, Bilaspur renovated. Its value has been estimated at Rs 44,22,406. Apart from this, a Honda scooter, a second-hand WagonR car, a stock of foreign liquor worth Rs 3 lakh, an amount of Rs 22,19,601 in bank and post office accounts, and a fixed deposit of Rs 16,66,090 have also been found. During the raid at the house, Rs 7,50,000 cash was also recovered. In the name of his wife, a plot in Hamirpur and a flat in Sector 38-D in Chandigarh, with a total value of Rs 64,02,000), a Creta car worth Rs 14,49,086, and a total of Rs 18,92,634 (including children’s accounts) in banks and post offices have been found. Apart from this, the value of household items has been estimated at Rs 2,98,500. Investigation has revealed that even after 2019, Nishant Sareen has purchased several properties including Omaxe Chandigarh. This will be thoroughly investigated in the upcoming investigation. Based on the facts, Vigilance has registered a case against Nishant Sareen in Shimla police station.
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