Did CBI Arrest a Senior Passport Official for Disproportionate Assets?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Senior Passport Superintendent who is currently assigned to the Regional Passport Office in Mumbai and was previously located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, in relation to a pending case concerning disproportionate assets, as confirmed by the central agency on Tuesday.
Authorities reported that the apprehension occurred late on December 8 after investigators discovered that the suspect, Deepak Chandra, was allegedly trying to sway witnesses and obstruct the investigation.
The CBI indicated that a case was initiated against Chandra on March 24, 2025, for purportedly holding assets that are disproportionate to his verified income sources.
Investigators assert that within the timeframe from July 30, 2018 to September 30, 2024, he amassed assets totaling Rs 85,06,900, which is approximately 146.43 percent greater than his legitimate earnings.
"During the investigation, a search was performed at the accused's residence, leading to the recovery of significant unaccounted cash amounting to around Rs 60 lakh, along with documentation of investments in real estate and records of various substantial expenditures," the CBI stated in its press release.
The agency has also compiled details regarding investments in real estate and considerable personal spending that it believes cannot be justified by his salary and official income.
In September, the Anti-Corruption Court of the CBI in Ghaziabad issued a provisional attachment order, granting the agency permission to provisionally seize properties associated with the accused.
These included a residential apartment and a commercial shop, both identified during the investigation.
After his arrest, Chandra was presented before the CBI court in Ghaziabad on December 9.
The court authorized the agency to hold the accused in police custody until December 12 for further interrogation.
The CBI stated that the inquiry into the alleged disproportionate assets and related financial activities is still ongoing.