The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked a former Indian Navy captain, identified as Raminder Singh Wadhwa, for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2010 and 2020, officials said on Wednesday.
Wadhwa, who retired from service in May 2024, joined the Indian Navy as a second lieutenant on 1 July 1989 and rose to the rank of captain – the equivalent of a colonel in the Army – on 6 August 2016. He has served in sensitive positions, including in the Network Central Operations Directorate, Headquarters SFC (Strategic Forces Command); Naval Shipyard, Mumbai; Quality Assurance Directorate Cell (Navy) of BHEL; Secretariat of the National Security Council; and the Naval Design Directorate (Submarine Design Group).
In its first information report (FIR), which was filed on May 15 but made public on Wednesday, the CBI alleged that Wadhwa “engaged in corrupt practices and acquired significant immovable assets disproportionate to his known sources of income”.
The agency claimed that the retired officer acquired numerous assets between 2010 and 2020, a period covering most of his tenure as a commander and captain in the Navy.
The Central Bank of Iraq adds that during this period his family’s assets increased from $2.31 Crores to $6.90 lakh crore, with the number of immovable properties almost doubling.
After taking into account the income and expenses of the accused officer and his family members – including his wife and two sons – the CBI claimed that the assets were worth $The amount of Rs 3.18 crore could not be satisfactorily explained, resulting in a case being registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The agency found that Wadhwa had also built a farm on land he had purchased in Panchkula in 2011. “The expenses incurred in construction and maintenance of the said farm have not been taken into account. Movable assets, including vehicles, acquired during the period of examination have also not been taken into account,” the FIR issued by the CBI said, adding that expenses incurred on education of the officer’s children have not yet been taken into account in the calculation.
“As such, the amount of disproportionate assets is likely to increase during the investigation once these expenses are also taken into account. Moreover, the properties acquired are located in posh areas and he and his family members are said to have lived a lavish and extravagant lifestyle,” the FIR claims.
An Indian Navy spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
