₹661 crore scam accused taken to hotel, not jail: Police drop graft charges against own cops, court summons DSP

₹661 crore scam accused taken to hotel, not jail: Police drop graft charges against own cops, court summons DSP

Aayush Goel

Chandigarh. Chandigarh Police have removed corruption charges against two of their own men. The sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector are accused of driving Vikram Wadhwa, a key accused in the ₹661 crore IDFC First Bank scam, to a city hotel when they should have taken him back to jail. A Chandigarh court has now summoned DSP (Central) SPS Sondhi to explain who ordered the charges dropped, and why.

The case was registered on Sondhi’s own complaint. The FIR invoked Sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against SI Jagmehar and ASI Surinder. By the time Sector 17 police filed the chargesheet, both sections had been removed.

Police have said they found no firm proof that money changed hands, so the corruption charge did not stand. The court is not convinced. Sondhi appeared before it on Saturday evening, but his reply did not satisfy the court, and he has been called again for Monday’s hearing. He must explain the legal basis for the decision and name the officer who directed it. The court will then decide the next step based on the chargesheet and the evidence.

Sons waiting, escape plan discussed

Wadhwa was lodged in Burail jail. He complained of ill health, and the court allowed him to be taken to the government hospital in Sector 16. After the check-up, the two policemen were supposed to take him back to jail.

Police say the two policemen put him in a private car and drove him to Hotel City Heart in Sector 17. Wadhwa stayed there for hours. His family and others came to meet him. Investigators say a possible plan for his escape was discussed during the visit.

A police team raided the hotel on a tip-off. The team arrested Wadhwa’s sons, Karan and Kunal, along with the two policemen, both of whom were posted at Police Lines in Sector 26. Wadhwa was sent back to jail.

The other charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) remain. Police have chargesheeted five people: the two policemen, Wadhwa and his two sons. All five have been arrested.

Why Wadhwa matters

Wadhwa is a real estate businessman. The CBI says he was the biggest beneficiary of the stolen public money. One CBI chargesheet alleges he received about ₹74.37 crore through various firms and about ₹4.57 crore in cash, and used the money to buy property.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him on May 29 under the money laundering law. The agency said Wadhwa was “instrumental in generation, layering and concealment” of crime money. The ED says more than ₹70 crore reached his personal account, along with large amounts of cash. The CBI chargesheeted him in June.

The probe is still on. The hotel case comes up today.