Mr. Sanjay Popli, a 2008-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, has been chargesheeted in connection with an arms case. The Punjab Police filed the chargesheet under Sections 25, 54, and 59 of the Arms Act, following the recovery of unlicensed ammunition from his residence.
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Mr. Popli was booked on June 21, 2022, after a team from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau allegedly seized 73 live cartridges during a search at his house in Sector 11, Chandigarh. The search was conducted in connection with an alleged corruption case registered under Sections 7 and 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to the Vigilance Bureau Inspector, who filed the complaint, the team recovered 41 live cartridges of 7.65 mm, two cartridges of .32 bore, and 30 cartridges of .22 bore, none of which were endorsed on Mr. Popli’s arms licence.
The corruption case against Mr. Popli was registered a day earlier, on June 20, 2022, for allegedly demanding a commission of Rs. 7 lakh from a contractor. The bribe was reportedly sought for clearing tenders related to the laying of a sewerage line in Nawanshahr.
The case has drawn significant attention, given the seniority of the officer and the serious nature of the allegations.
