RAWALPINDI: Former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Iqbal Sanghera has been taken into custody once again, five days after slipping away from police custody. According to police sources, a special unit of the Rawalpindi Police tracked him down and arrested him. They said Sanghera, who is wanted in a Rawalpindi corruption case, is now being transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.
Sanghera had earlier escaped on November 13 while officers were transporting him from Rawalpindi to Lahore. He reportedly fled during a stopover at the Chakri Interchange rest area on the motorway.
He was originally booked by the Rawalpindi Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in FIR No. 16/2022. The case includes charges under Section 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code for presenting forged documents as genuine, Section 468 for committing forgery with intent to deceive, and Section 420 for cheating. These offences are coupled with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, which deals with misconduct by a public servant and carries a possible penalty of up to seven years in jail, a fine, or both.
While details of the Rawalpindi case are still not fully known, Sanghera was also detained in Lahore on August 1 in relation to FIR No. 46/2025, lodged on July 31, 2025. That case invokes PPC Section 161 for taking illegal gratification in the course of official duties and Section 162 for seeking a bribe to influence another public servant.
During the Lahore probe, investigators recovered a Land Cruiser (ARE-054), a Rolex watch, significant amounts of cash allegedly paid as bribes, and original documents of two commercial plots (Nos. 39 and 40 in the CA area). These items are said to have been acquired during Sanghera’s posting as ADCR in Sialkot. Officials also seized Rs6.825 million, reportedly intended for purchasing a house in DHA, along with another Rs49.15 million suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
Four police personnel dimissed:
Authorities have dismissed four police personnel for negligence in the case of former ADCR Iqbal Sanghera, who escaped from police custody. Investigators will now verify whether the officers were in contact with the suspects by examining their mobile phone data.
According to the report, the inquiry into Sanghera’s escape is still underway, and all four officers found responsible for negligence have been removed from service.
The report further states that geofencing of the Chakri Rest Area, where the escape incident is believed to have links, has been completed. Police have obtained the mobile data of the dismissed officials, which will be used to confirm any communication with the suspects.
Meanwhile, police have sent a request to the Excise Office for information related to the vehicle used in the escape. However, incomplete vehicle registration details have made it difficult to trace the exact records.
