Surat Municipal Engineer Suspended Following ACB Bribery Case, Rs 52 Lakh Gold Seized
In a significant anti-corruption action, Vipul Ganeshwala, the executive engineer of the South East Zone (Limbayat) at the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), has been suspended by municipal commissioner M Nagarajan. This decisive move came after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) lodged an FIR against Ganeshwala for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh.
Suspension Order and Departmental Inquiry
The suspension was officially enforced from Thursday night, coinciding with the ACB booking him. In his suspension order, Commissioner Nagarajan emphasized that Ganeshwala was involved in a serious offence of bribery and had failed to report for duty. The order stated that allowing him to continue in the administration was "not acceptable under any condition" while a departmental inquiry is under consideration. The suspension aligns with conduct and discipline guidelines, aiming to ensure an impartial investigation into the allegations.
Details of the Bribery Allegations and Key Figures
According to the complaint, the bribery scheme involved Mohammad Islam, also known as Parwana Pathan, who serves as the editor of the daily newspaper Nispaksh Gujarat Patrika. Pathan allegedly acted on behalf of Ganeshwala, accepting the bribe at his office located in Shanti Nagar, near Raghukul Market in Salabatpura. The illicit demand stemmed from a case involving an unauthorized industrial unit owned by the complainant.
- Pathan demanded Rs 21 lakh to prevent the demolition of the complainant's unauthorized industrial unit.
- Initially, the demolition had started but was halted after Ganeshwala reportedly collected Rs 1.7 lakh in charges.
- After multiple meetings, both parties negotiated the bribe down to Rs 15 lakh, with Rs 4 lakh to be paid on February 19 and the remainder on February 23.
ACB Trap and Subsequent Searches
On Thursday, the complainant handed over Rs 4 lakh to Pathan at his office. Pathan then left on the complainant's scooter with the money, promising to return shortly. However, after nearly 20 minutes with no sign of the accused, the complainant alerted the ACB team, who had been waiting for a signal. Despite immediate efforts, the ACB failed to apprehend either Ganeshwala or Pathan in the following days, and the bribe money remains unrecovered.
In related searches, police recovered Rs 80,000 in cash from Pathan's office. A more substantial discovery was made during a search of Ganeshwala's properties, where gold jewellery worth approximately Rs 52 lakh was found in a bank locker. These recoveries highlight the potential scale of the corruption involved.
Ongoing Investigation and Asset Scrutiny
As the investigation progresses, police are actively gathering details regarding the assets and expenditures of both accused individuals. This step is crucial for building a comprehensive case and understanding the full extent of their alleged corrupt activities. The ACB continues to pursue leads to locate Ganeshwala and Pathan, who have remained elusive since the FIR was filed.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in combating corruption within municipal administrations and the critical role of agencies like the ACB in enforcing accountability. The suspension and subsequent inquiries aim to restore public trust and ensure that such misconduct is addressed rigorously.
