I am an eye witness to my son's murder, says arrested bureaucrat

Sanjay Popli, who was arrested in a corruption case on June 20, said his son was killed by vigilance officers.

According to the vigilance bureau team, 27-year-old Kartik Popli died by suicide during the raid using his father's licensed gun. A neighbour told NDTV that the investigation team was present when the death took place.

Sanjay Popli, however, claimed that his son was killed in front of him. "I am an eyewitness of my son's death". The bureaucrat was brought to his home to conduct the raid. Kartik had met him in custody and just returned home when the team arrived with his father to conduct the raid.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal refused the claim and said they rushed Kartik to the hospital. He was declared dead in the hospital. The officer admitted that the vigilance team was on the premises when it happened.

Vigilance Bureau Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar told the media that the team never entered the house and recovered gold and silver from a store in the yard. He also claimed the team left by the time Kartik's death happened due to gunshot injuries.

Popli's wife said that the vigilance officers were pressuring the family and the domestic help to give false statements in support of the case they registered. She accused the investigators "snatched" her son.

"My 27-year-old son is gone. He was a brilliant lawyer. They have snatched him," she told reporters. She also showed the blood spots on her hands.

She added that the vigilance team took Kartik to the first floor and started pressuring him. "They did not allow me to go upstairs despite my requests. I somehow managed to catch a glimpse from the staircase and saw they had a gun aimed at Kartik". She added her attempts to reach him were stopped and a gunshot was heard a few moments later.

A forensic team has taken the gun to be investigated. They have recovered an empty bullet shell from the spot of death.

The bureaucrat was arrested last week for allegedly demanding a bribe in exchange for clearing tenders for the pipeline project in Punjab's Nawanshahr. The vigilance team arrived at his residence yesterday for a raid. They seized gold, silver, cash, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.

Express Punjab tweeted that the Punjab vigilance team claims to have recovered nearly 12 kg of gold and silver from the arrested IAS officer Sanjay Popli's residence in Chandigarh. It includes nine gold bricks, 49 gold biscuits, 12 gold coins, three silver bricks, 18 silver coins, four iPhones, and Rs 3.5 lakh in cash.

Kartik Popli was a law graduate who wanted to join judicial services. Sources told Tribune India that he was disturbed over his father's arrest on corruption charges and used to meet him in Vigilance custody.