An Indian Revenue Services (IRS) official posted at Indian High Commission in Tanzania has been found guilty of misappropriation of funds by a Special CBI Court. Identified as Rajeshwar Singhal who was on deputation with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), was posted as the First Secretary to the Indian High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the Capital of Tanzania. Singhal has been convicted in a case of misappropriation of visa fees. The case was being investigated by the CBI and was registered some 11 years ago by the agency. The quantum of punishment in the case is listed to be on 30th of September.
Special CBI Judge Rakesh Syal on Saturday convicted Rajeshwar Singhal, who was posted at the Indian High Commission in Tanzania. Charges against him were already framed back in the year 2005. “Vide a separate judgment, announced in the open court, it is held that accused Rajeshwar Singhal is guilty for commission of offences punishable under section 13 (2) read with section 13 (1) (c) of the PC Act, and sections 409 and 477-A IPC and he is convicted accordingly,” the court said.
According to sources, Rajeshwar Singhal headed the counselor’s team handling the Visa Wing in Tanzania’s Indian High Commission from 1997 to 2000. He, during his tenure, misappropriated visa fee which he falsely collected from several visa applicants applying for visa. The convict cheated the visa applicants by providing them visa on a sum more than the required amount for a particular visa. Singhal thus made money by forging visa applications. He is out on bail as of now.
There were 277 cases of misappropriation against Singhal, out of which, the CBI only took eight cases into consideration because of its distant nature and sensitive diplomatic relationships involved. The CBI, however, has sought maximum sentence for Singhal.