Chandigarh: The Chandigarh police department suspended an assistant sub-inspector posted at Sector-17 police station and initiated a departmental inquiry after allegations surfaced that he misused the debit and credit cards of an accused arrested in an immigration fraud case, spent seized cash and facilitated the misuse of signed blank cheques.The action was taken against ASI Ashish Pratap Singh following a complaint by Shantanu, a former operator of Sky High Immigration in Sector 17. Police had earlier registered an immigration fraud case against Shantanu and Baljinder, and ASI Ashish Partap Singh was handling the investigation of the case. The two were arrested from Dera Bassi, Punjab, during the probe. A car, motorcycle and cash were allegedly recovered from them.According to the complaint, the details of the seized vehicles and cash were not fully recorded in police records after the accused were brought to the police station. It was also alleged that the seized cash was misused. The complainant further alleged that the ASI used the accused’s credit and debit cards for personal expenses, including servicing his private car, shopping and other payments.The ASI was also accused of obtaining Shantanu’s signatures on blank cheques during the investigation. The complaint alleged that the cheques were later handed over, without Shantanu’s knowledge, to a person who had complained against him. The cheques were subsequently presented to a bank and legal proceedings were initiated after they were dishonoured.Shantanu learnt about the alleged misuse after being released on bail and subsequently approached senior police officers. Following a preliminary inquiry, the allegations were found serious enough to suspend ASI and initiate a departmental probe against him.The allegations are under investigation, and further action will depend on the findings of the departmental inquiry.