Ex-Mhada babu's Rs 143cr assets attached

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cleared the anti-corruption bureau's (ACB) proposal to attach properties of eight public servants facing corruption charges. Among them is suspended deputy collector (encroachment) and former Mhada officer Nitish Thakur, whose properties are valued at an eye-popping Rs 143 crore.
Others tainted officials include a police inspector, a school principal, a lower division clerk, a primary healthcare centre compounder, a public works department sub-engineer, a government hospital medical assistant and an irrigation depa8rtment section engineer.Their assets, ranging from nearly Rs 6 lakh to about Rs 98 lakh, were found to be beyond their known sources of income.
"This is the first time the government has swiftly granted sanction to attach the properties of corrupt officials," said Mantralaya sources.
Clearance was granted last week by Fadnavis, who on Thursday confirmed this to TOI. Last month, Fadnavis ordered the ACB to conduct a probe against three former NCP ministers, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal.
The Nitish Thakur graft matter is one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a government official. He was arrested in March 2012 by the ACB and released on bail. During a search of his properties, the police found a Gorai bungalow, two duplex flats in Vile Parle, and 11 flats and four bungalows in Kandivli, Borivli, Andheri, Ghatkopar, Alibaug, Murud, Kolegoan and Chikli. These were among 26 properties he had amassed as a government official. Investigators also discovered a fleet of high-end cars in his possession.
A few months ago, the enforcement directorate (ED) attached some of Thakur's assets worth Rs 53.57 crore in connection with a money laundering case.
The agency, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, had issued orders for the attachment of 55 acres of land, and fixed deposits and bank balance amounting to Rs 53.57 crore allegedly belonging to Thakur.