Ex-ACP held for amassing wealth disproportionate to income
PUNE: City branch of the state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested retired assistant commissioner of police Mohammed Chand Mulani and filed a chargesheet against him for allegedly amassing assets worth over Rs 11 lakh disproportionate to his known source of income.
ACB deputy superintendent of police Padmakar Ghanwat arrested Mulani (65) and produced him before special judge J D Kulkarni. Defence lawyer Pratap Pardeshi said Mulani was later released on bail on a surety bond of Rs 25,000.
The ACB has charged Mulani for committing an offence punishable under sections 7, 13 (1) (e) read with 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the chargesheet, a confidential inquiry was ordered against Mulani after K Y Karnik, president of Pune forum citizen had filed a complaint against him for amassing wealth in 2002.
After the inquiry revealed that there was prima facie evidence against Mulani, the ACB initiated an open inquiry and registered a complaint against him with the Haveli police station in 2008.
During investigations, the ACB verified Mulani’s source of income between July 20, 1967 and December 31, 2002. The source of income of his family members was also verified.
The ACB had discovered that Mulani had allegedly amassed property to the tune of over Rs 26 lakhs. However, investigations had revealed that he had amassed property worth over Rs 11 lakh which was disproportionate to his known source of income.
The chargesheet said Mulani and his family members had not co-operated with the ACB when an explanation inrespect of the wealth amassed by him was sought on various occasions. They have not given statements to the ACB.
The chargesheet lists names of 37 witnesses in the case.
The disbanded Special Investigation Team, Pune, set up to investigate the fake stamp paper scam had arrested Mulani for allegedly abetting the organised crime syndicate headed by the scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi. The Supreme Court had released Mulani on bail on September 19, 2006.