Slow paperwork hampers probe in Asaram, Sai cases

AHMEDABAD: Lack of coordination among the probing agencies has slowed down the probe into the case pertaining to disproportionate assets of Asaram and his son Narayan Sai and their alleged role in Rs 8 crore bribery case.
One of the major cases against them is related to Rs 700 crore land grab in Ratlam in which the investigating agency, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), is awaiting prosecution approval from corporate affairs ministry for the past two years.The land on Delhi-Pune freight corridor in MP belongs to Jayant Vitamins Ltd that was allegedly grabbed in 2000.
The other central agencies involved in the probe are waiting for the documents and some more support from local agencies to make headway.
The income tax (I-T) department is still waiting for Surat police to hand over the 42 bags of documents and other material seized from a builder who is also a close aide of Asaram. Last month, Gujarat high court rejected the petition of Uday Sanghani, one of the main accused in bribery case, for not handing over the seized documents to the I-T department.
"Even in the bribery case, the police are not handing over the seized cash without which the department cannot make the case," said an I-T source. Sources said that Sanghani may approach Supreme Court which will further delay the process.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is still probing the bribery case for money laundering, is expected to begin attachments. Sources said that ED is probing all the foreign transactions of the father-son duo under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Surat police commissioner Rakesh Asthana had claimed last year that wealth of Asaram's ashrams in the form of bank accounts and other investments is valued at Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore. The amount does not include the value of lands owned by Asaram and his son.
Asthana said the documents seized from Asaram's aide revealed that Asaram and Sai hold land at 45 locations across 10 districts in Gujarat besides 33 other places in eight districts of Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.