ACB Uncovers Rs 51.8 Lakh in Assets from Bank Locker of Arrested Intelligence Officer
In a significant development in an ongoing corruption probe, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday seized gold, silver, and cash valued at approximately Rs 51.8 lakh from a bank locker associated with a senior intelligence officer recently arrested in a bribery case. The operation, conducted in Ahmedabad, marks a crucial step in the investigation into alleged financial misconduct by the accused official.
Details of the Seizure and Arrest
The accused, identified as Ketan Dave (40), was serving as a senior intelligence officer with the State Intelligence Bureau at the Sanand centre. He was initially apprehended on March 15 after being caught red-handed allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 80,000. The bribe was reportedly demanded to facilitate the renewal of police protection for a complainant involved in a sensitive case. A formal case was registered against Dave at Gandhinagar under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
As part of the deepening investigation, an ACB team from Mehsana executed a search warrant on Tuesday at a branch of Central Bank of India in Sector 16. The search targeted a locker held jointly by Dave and his wife, leading to the recovery of substantial assets. Officials confirmed the seizure included:
- 346 grams of gold jewellery
- 2.536 kilograms of silver items, comprising ornaments, coins, and biscuits
- An undisclosed amount of cash
The total estimated value of these items has been pegged at Rs 51.8 lakh, highlighting the scale of the alleged illicit accumulation.
Background of the Bribery Case and Ongoing Probe
The bribery incident that triggered this investigation occurred near the Sargasan crossroads in Gandhinagar. According to ACB officials, Dave was allegedly caught accepting the bribe inside the complainant's vehicle during a meticulously planned trap. The money was solicited to ensure the continuation of police protection, raising serious concerns about abuse of power within law enforcement agencies.
Following the locker seizure, the ACB has intensified its efforts to determine whether the recovered assets are disproportionate to Dave's known sources of income. Officials stated that further investigation is underway to probe any additional financial irregularities and to examine possible links and transactions that might implicate more individuals in the case. The bureau is meticulously analyzing records to uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption network.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in combating corruption within government institutions and highlights the ACB's commitment to rooting out such malpractices through rigorous enforcement and asset recovery operations.
