The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday carried out raids in 16 places in three states against the controversial former chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh Akhand Pratap Singh.

The agency claimed it recovered Rs 3.65 lakh in cash from Singh's Shanti Kunj apartment in posh South West Delhi and documents relating to property worth crores of rupees.

The raids began in the wee hours of the morning after the CBI registered a case under Sections 13 (2) and 13 (1)(e) (amassing of huge wealth disproportionate to the known sources of income and using corrupt means to gain wealth) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Singh, a 1967 batch Indian Administrative Officer of the UP cadre, retired as chief secretary in December 2003 when a public interest litigation was filed against any move by the state government to give him extension.

A CBI spokesman said the anti-corruption branch was carried out the raids at three places in Delhi, seven in Lucknow, two in Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) and four places in Nainital.

He has held various sensitive positions in the UP and central governments.

"He is having a large number of properties in his own name and in the names of his family members and others, apart from a benami fleet of vehicles," the spokesman said.

Singh is also suspected to have stashed his ill-gotten earnings in overseas bank accounts and has made several private trips abroad, he added.