Anti-Corruption Bureau raids 10 govt offices before Diwali

AHMEDABAD: At the start of festive season, state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted search at ten government offices on the basis of information that many government officers accept expensive gifts for Diwali. Out of 10 places searched, officials found excess amount from six officers and personnel in four of the offices in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat.
“A team that searched at office of Sales Tax department at Relief Road found a class II officer with Rs 1 lakh cash.Another team in Vadodara had searched GPCB regional office at GERI Compound in Ellora Park where the regional officer was found with cash and silver coins worth Rs 79,295 and a vigilance officer was found in possession of eight covers containing cash and silver coins worth Rs 2.61 lakh,” said an ACB official.
In Surat, teams searched at district geology office and sub-registrar office at Katargam. In first instance, team found a junior clerk with Rs 18,000 cash whereas in second instance, the sub-registrar was found with Rs 25,400 cash. In the same office, two clerks sharing a mini locker were found to have Rs 9,435 excess.
KT Kamaria, assistant director, ACB, told TOI that other offices including Commercial Tax department and Sub-registrar office in Vadodara city, Industrial safety and health department at Valsad, Malatdar offices in Patan and Siddhpur and Geology office at Junagadh were searched from where nothing objectionable was found. While ACB officials refused to comment where the cash and valuables seized were received as Diwali gifts, sources confirmed that in most of the instances it was the case. “There was no specific input but it is the season where the government officials get a number of gifts that exceed permissible limit. The accused would be given a chance to explain the possession of excess cash and valuables,” said an official.