The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case of disproportionate assets against a Class I officer serving as Chief Electrical Inspector at Udyog Bhavan in Gandhinagar after recovering cash, gold, silver and other valuables worth Rs 2.64 crore from his govt vehicle and residences in Gandhinagar and Surat.
He was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after a probe into allegations that he has amassed assets beyond his known sources of income.
According to the ACB, officials received information that Chaudhary allegedly issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) for solar power projects without mandatory site inspections. In return, he allegedly accepted bribes from businessmen and applicants seeking approvals.
Acting on the tip-off, an ACB team kept surveillance on the officer and his govt-issued vehicle & the team intercepted Chaudhary while he was heading home after office.
During a search of the official vehicle, investigators recovered Rs 5.51 lakh in cash along with gift vouchers but he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money.
Subsequent searches were carried out at his residences in Gandhinagar and Surat. The raids led to the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 1.76 crore, besides gold and silver bars, jewellery and coins valued at approximately Rs 88.82 lakh.
In all, assets worth Rs 2.64 crore were recovered from the three locations, the ACB said following which investigators suspect the assets were accumulated through corrupt practices and illegal gratification.
A complaint was lodged at the Gandhinagar ACB police station, leading to the registration of an offence under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
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