Jalandhar: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached five immovable properties worth approximately ₹1.36 crore belonging to Rakesh Kumar Singla, former Deputy Director in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Punjab, and his wife Rachna Singla, in connection with a disproportionate assets and money laundering case.
The attachment has been carried out by the ED’s Jalandhar Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab Police, alleging that Singla, while serving as a public servant, accumulated assets far in excess of his known and lawful sources of income.
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According to ED officials, subsequent probes under PMLA revealed that Singla had allegedly collected bribes during his tenure and generated illicit proceeds of crime, which were later laundered through a structured financial network involving his wife and other family members.
Investigators said the illegal funds were deposited in multiple bank accounts and routed through sham entries arranged via various individuals and entities. The laundered money was then invested in immovable properties in an attempt to project tainted funds as legitimate assets.
“The evidence collected so far indicates systematic laundering of bribe money through cash deposits, accommodation entries and subsequent investment in real estate,” an official familiar with the probe said.
The agency stated that the laundering process involved placement of illicit cash into bank accounts, layering through artificial transactions and integration into property purchases — a pattern commonly used to conceal the criminal origin of funds.
All five attached properties are held in the names of Rakesh Kumar Singla and his wife and are believed to represent proceeds of crime or assets acquired using illegal income.
The provisional attachment has been made to prevent the transfer or disposal of these properties and to secure future confiscation proceedings. The case will now be placed before the adjudicating authority under PMLA for confirmation of the attachment.
Officials said financial trails linked to bank accounts, cash deposits, alleged fake entries and property transactions are being examined to identify additional assets and establish the full extent of the laundering network.
The case adds to a growing list of enforcement actions targeting corruption-linked money laundering involving public servants accused of converting illegal earnings into high-value assets.
Further investigation is currently underway.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
