Maharashtra ACB books Thane cop in graft case

According to ACB officials, the accused, head constable Jaising Rajput, was attached to the Unit V of the Thane Police Crime Branch and was arrested along with three others while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 on January 28, 2015. As a matter of procedure, the ACB raided his residence and found Rs 17.53 lakh in cash and 127 tolas of gold in his house. On the basis of these findings, the ACB initiated an open inquiry into his assets.

“During our inquiries, we found that Rajput, who has been in service since 1989, has earned a total of Rs 90,27,732 from the start of his service till the day of his arrest. However, his existing property, which included the cash and gold found in his house as well as his car were worth Rs 64,74,033. Further, we also found documentary evidence of him having bought and sold a plot of land in Shahpur and an Innova car, and there was Rs 29 lakh in his bank accounts. We also evaluated his expenditure during the period that he had been in service, and found that he had spent Rs 1,00,42,803 during this period,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Balkrishna Sawant, ACB, Thane.
Sawant added when the value of Rajput’s existing property and his expenditure was added, and the value of his income was subtracted from this figure, the difference was Rs 74,89,104.

“Our inquiries clearly showed that there was a difference of 82.96 per cent between the value of his assets and his income. We have registered a case of possessing assets disproportionate to one’s income against Rajput under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further inquiries are under way,” said Sawant.

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