Gujarat ACB books chief electrical inspector in disproportionate assets case, valuables worth ₹2.65 cr recovered

The Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets case against a Chief Electrical Inspector posted at Udyog Bhavan in Gandhinagar after recovering cash, gold, silver and other valuables collectively valued at nearly ₹2.65 crore during searches conducted at multiple locations.

According to an ACB official on Sunday, the accused, Ashwin B. Chaudhary, a Class-I officer serving as Chief Electrical Inspector, came under scrutiny following information received by ACB officials alleging that he was issuing safety certificates and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to traders and applicants without conducting the mandatory site inspections and was allegedly accepting illegal gratification in return.

The ACB stated that acting on specific intelligence, a team led by officials of ACB Field Unit-3 kept surveillance on Chaudhary and the government vehicle allotted to him. Late in the evening, when he was returning to his residence in an official white Swift Dzire car, the vehicle was intercepted by the ACB team.

During a search of the vehicle, officials allegedly recovered cash amounting to ₹5.51 lakh along with gift vouchers. Investigators said Chaudhary was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money.

Subsequent questioning led the ACB to conduct searches at his residential premises in Gandhinagar and Surat. During these raids, officials allegedly found cash totalling ₹1.76 crore, besides gold and silver bars, jewellery and coins with an estimated value of ₹88.82 lakh.

The ACB said that valuables worth a total of approximately ₹2.65 crore were recovered from three locations, including the government vehicle and residential properties. Investigators alleged that the officer failed to furnish a satisfactory financial explanation or documentary evidence to justify possession of the assets.

Based on the findings, the ACB concluded that the assets appeared disproportionate to the officer’s known sources of income and registered a case under Sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The FIR was lodged at the Gandhinagar ACB Police Station on May 31, on the complaint of Police Inspector P.N. Khokhara of ACB Field Unit-3. The investigation has been entrusted to K.D. Suthar, an ACB officer posted in Himmatnagar.