ACB probing Patidar’s assets, birth certificate
PANAJI: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) is now probing whether Goa civil services officer Praveen Patidar, who was caught red-handed on Tuesday accepting a bribe, holds assets disproportionate to his income.
Interestingly, the agency is also investigating whether Patidar fudged his birth certificate when joining government service.
“We have conducted thorough checks at Patidar’s office and residence. We are now going through documents to verify if the officer has assets beyond his income. At present we have not arrested him but we have detained him for questioning,” said ACB sources.
With regard to the investigation into his birth certificate, sources said there are allegations that Patidar has fudged the certificate. Based on the certificate given at the time of joining service, Patidar is 56 years old and has another four years of service before retirement.
Patidar is the registrar of cooperative societies and holds additional charge as director of animal husbandry and veterinary services.
He was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a person in his registrar of cooperative societies office on Tuesday afternoon. He has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
ACB raided the office on receiving a complaint from one Vivekananda Naik, a supplier of dry grass (used as fodder) to the animal husbandry and veterinary services department. The complainant alleged that though his cheque of Rs 22 lakh was ready, the director had refused to release it and was demanding a bribe of 10% of the total amount. The complainant had given the ACB recorded cellphone conversations in which Patidar is heard asking for the bribe amount.
Elaborating on the complaint, ACB sleuths said that after several meetings Patidar agreed to accept an initial payment of Rs 15,000 to release the cheque. As agreed, the complainant went to Patidar’s office on Tuesday afternoon and paid him the money.
Just as Patidar was accepting the money the ACB team caught him.