Gangtok, March 11: The crime branch of the Sikkim police arrested Anil Khanna last evening for his role in the chief minister?s signature forgery case.

Husband of Rajani Hilton, who has been charged with producing false recommendations, apparently by the chief minister, with her application for the contract of supplying books and stationery to Tashi Namgyal Academy, was picked up from his home in Development area here.

Khanna, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) of the Rajasthan cadre, is currently in police remand and being interrogated for his role in forging Pawan Chamling?s signature and recommendations.

Inspector general of police (law and order) S.D. Negi, while confirming the arrest, said the former IPS was produced before the chief judicial magistrate (east & north) here late this afternoon. He was sent to Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital for medical examination in the morning.

While Khanna?s wife was arrested on March 2, the crime branch took some time to collect enough evidence to arrest the mastermind, who has been booked under Sections 420, 368 and 371 and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Though the couple has been arrested for producing fake documents to bag the contract for supplying books to Sikkim?s best known public school, similar cases of forgery by the same duo have been reported by several government departments.

All the cases are now under investigation.

Rajani, who will be produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate on March 15, has been admitted to the STNM Hospital under police custody since she is in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

Khanna, who is said to have resigned from the police service, used to practice homeopathy from his clinic.