While Saji Mohan’s police custody was extended by another week by a Mumbai court following an application by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), the Chandigarh Police slapped a criminal case against Saji Mohan on charges of embezzlement and criminal conspiracy on Friday. The case by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) was registered on a complaint lodged by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which alleged that they found about Rs 13.81 lakh missing from the seizures made during Saji Mohan’s tenure as Zonal Director of the NCB in Chandigarh.

The complaint lodged by Intelligence Officer R C Bodh says: “On verification of the seized contraband goods lying in the Malkhana (seizure room), it was observed that in NCB Crime No. 12/04 dated 30.12.2004, an amount of Rs 13,81,250 was seized. It was found that the container was unlocked and only an amount of Rs 49,980 was found. On perusal of the case file, it was observed that the above property of Rs 13,81,250 was handed over by Malkhana in-charge Balwinder Kumar on December 22, 2008, to the then Zonal Director Saji Mohan for depositing in a State Bank of India account. Mohan has given an acknowledgement receipt to this effect. Enquiries with the bank revealed that the amount was not deposited in the SBI account till date.”

Based on this complaint, an FIR was registered against Mohan at the Sector-3 police station in Chandigarh on charges of embezzlement.

As the amount embezzled is more than Rs 2 lakh, the matter was referred to the EOW. The EOW will now seek Mohan’s custody once he is remanded in judicial custody by the Mumbai court after ATS completes his interrogation in the drug-haul case.

According to reports from Mumbai, Mohan has allegedly told his interrogators that prior to his Mumbai arrest, he had pushed 10 kg of heroin into the market in north India in 2008. Mohan had also made contacts with two more persons, one based in Mahim and the other in Vile Parle, for pushing the drug into Mumbai.

The Maharashtra ATS is probing the route of the trafficking after Mohan was arrested on January 24 with 12 kg of Afghan heroin at a pub in Oshiwara.

A detailed report on the investigation has been sent by the ATS to the Enforcement Directorate, following which it suspended Saji Mohan, who had just joined it as a deputy director in Kochi.

A separate inquiry by the CBI is also under way in Chandigarh for the money he had allegedly embezzled from the NCB and places where he had abused his rank and office.

According to the ATS, Superintendent Balwinder Kumar of the NCB who is being questioned is still under detention and his statements are being verified. Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS) Parambir Singh said the two Mumbai-based people whom Mohan had identified were also being called for questioning.