The mysterious death of youth Kartika son of Punjab cadre IAS officer Sanjay Popli when team of Punjab State Vigilance Bureau was conducting raid at his official residence in Sector 11, Chandigarh on Saturday evening during investigation in the case registered against Popli allegedly involved in corruption was going on Kartika shot himself dead with father’s licensed pistol in the upper floor of house. Hearing sound of the bullet shot when all present in the house including police and vigilance team conducting search on the ground floor in the house immediately reached at the first floor of house and found Kartika lying on the floor in a pool of flood in his room.
According to police as well as vigilance department team the youth had committed suicide by firing at himself, whereas on the other hand both weeping mother Shree as well as father Sanjay Popli alleged that their son was shot dead by the vigilance department team and became unconscious to see his profusely bleeding son lying on the floor rushed immediately to the hospital where doctors decaled brought dead.
According to SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal, Punjab IAS cadre officer Sanjay Popli was arrested by the State Vigilance Bureau on 21st June, 2022 on a complaint against him demanding 1% commission from the contractor in a contract for value worth over Rs 7.5 crore for installation of sewerage at Nawanshahar in Punjab and a corruption case was registered against him with the police and investigation was handed over to State Vigilance Bureau. Popli was remanded to police custody by the court.
During police remand vigilance department team during raid at the house of Sanjay Popli recovered 12.5 kg gold of value worth over Rs 20 crore in the shape of one kilogram nine bricks, 49 gold biscuits, large number of gold coins, three silver bricks & silver coins packed in a gunny bag in the store room. The raiding team also recovered Rs 3,5 lakh currency notes, 73 unused pistol bullets and several documents of properties in different areas in and around Chandigarh. However, vigilance team had left pistol licensed in the name of Sanjay Popli in the house suspected caused death to Kartika.
