Gandhinagar, June 1 (IANS) The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday registered a disproportionate assets case against Ashwin Chaudhari, a Class-I Chief Electrical Inspector posted at Udyog Bhavan in Gandhinagar, after recovering cash, gold, silver, and other valuables worth Rs 2.64 crore from his government vehicle and residences in Gandhinagar and Surat.

According to the ACB, Police Inspector P.N. Khokhra of the agency’s Field-3 Intelligence Wing received information that Chaudhari was issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) and safety certificates for solar projects without carrying out mandatory site inspections and was allegedly accepting bribes from traders and applicants in return.

Based on the intelligence inputs, a surveillance operation was launched under the supervision of Assistant Director Ashwin Patel.

Investigators alleged that Chaudhari routinely transported money collected during the day in his government-issued white Swift Dzire car after office hours.

The ACB team intercepted the vehicle late on Sunday evening while Chaudhari was on his way home and conducted a search. Officials recovered Rs 5,51,730 in cash along with gift vouchers.

The agency said Chaudhari failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money.

Speaking to reporters, Deputy Director Bharti Pandya said preliminary questioning led investigators to additional locations.

“During detailed questioning, information was received that large amounts of cash, gold and silver jewellery, coins and other documents were also kept at his residences in Gandhinagar and Surat,” she said.

Searches were subsequently carried out at both properties. The ACB recovered cash amounting to Rs 1,76,14,970 and gold and silver bars, jewellery, and coins valued at an estimated Rs 88,82,910.

Combined with the cash and gift vouchers recovered from the vehicle, the total value of assets seized during the operation stood at Rs 2,64,97,880.

The agency said Chaudhari was unable to provide a satisfactory financial explanation or documentary evidence to justify possession of the assets.

Based on the findings, investigators concluded that the assets appeared to have been accumulated through corrupt practices and bribe payments beyond his known legal sources of income.

Pandya said Chaudhari had been in the position for about 4 years and was responsible for approving applications for solar power projects.

“The normal protocol is that after applications are received from companies seeking approval for solar projects, it is mandatory to visit the site for inspection. Thereafter, the submitted plans are examined and, if found appropriate, approval is granted. However, this officer granted approvals without conducting site inspections and without carrying out detailed scrutiny of the plans,” she said.

According to the ACB, information gathered so far indicates that the officer cleared more than 100 files during the past week alone.

Pandya said investigators had also received information suggesting that some files were approved within a single day. “Those files are presently within our scope of investigation,” she said.

Asked about the money recovered from the vehicle, Pandya said: “During the preliminary inquiry, he admitted that the money had been obtained through bribes.”

She added that investigators were still examining from whom the money had been received and whether any companies, subordinate employees, agents, or private individuals were involved in the alleged operation.

“We will conduct a detailed investigation into whether any subordinate officers, employees, or private individuals were involved,” she said.

Pandya said there was no evidence at this stage of a fixed rate for approvals. “It depended on whatever arrangement he reached with the company and the applicant. There was no fixed amount,” she said.

The Deputy Director said the alleged misconduct involved bypassing mandatory procedures designed to verify whether solar installations complied with prescribed safety and technical requirements.

“It was mandatory for him to conduct site inspections and study the plans in detail to determine whether the solar installation was suitable. Despite this, he granted approvals without detailed verification,” she said. ‍

The ACB has also launched a wider financial investigation. Pandya said investigators would obtain details of Chaudhari’s bank accounts, lockers, properties, and financial transactions, and examine assets held by family members.

“Information regarding his bank accounts will be obtained. Details of his and his family members’ properties will be collected. Information regarding his lockers will also be gathered,” she said.

She further added, “We will obtain the files relating to actions taken by him in the past and the files he cleared, and we will examine whether he misused his authority in any way. A comprehensive investigation will be conducted.”

Pandya said the Gandhinagar residence searched by investigators was a government residential quarter allotted to the officer, while the Surat property was owned by him.

“Investigators had so far established that Chaudhary has a wife and two children,” she said.

The FIR was registered on May 31 at the Gandhinagar ACB Police Station by P.N. Khokhra on behalf of the state under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation is being carried out by Police Inspector K.D. Suthar of the Sabarkantha ACB Police Station in Himmatnagar.

–IANS

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