Lokayukta raids premises of Indore municipal officer in disproportionate assets case

Indore: The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta on Friday conducted searches at the residence and properties linked to an Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO) of the Indore Municipal Corporation after a preliminary investigation found assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, said an official.

The searches were carried out at the residence of ARO Jitendra Kumar Pandey and a hostel registered in the name of his wife, Bhavna Pandey, from around 7 a.m.

Two Lokayukta teams were deployed for the searches. The teams were led by DSPs Sunil Talan and Anand Chauhan and Inspectors Ashutosh Mithas and Sachin Pateriya.

According to Lokayukta SP Rajesh Sahayak, Pandey has been working with the Indore Municipal Corporation for around 31 years and his total salary income during his service period is estimated at nearly Rs 80 lakh. However, the preliminary investigation has indicated expenditure and assets worth around Rs 2.53 crore. This has resulted in an alleged disproportionate asset value of approximately Rs 1.73 crore, which is 216.35 per cent of his known sources of income, officials said.

The investigation identified a G+3 building in Anand Nagar Extension in the Navalakha-Chitawad area, registered in the name of Pandey's wife.

The property has been constructed on a 40x50-foot plot, and its construction cost has been estimated at around Rs 1.20 crore.

Another G+2 building registered in Bhavna Pandey's name was found in the Gulmohar ka Bagicha area of Gajadhar Nagar in Chitawad, according to Lokayukta officials.

A hostel is being operated from the second property and its construction cost has been estimated at around Rs 91.50 lakh.

The Lokayukta also found that several four-wheelers and two-wheelers had been purchased in the names of Pandey's wife, son and daughter.

The preliminary expenditure on these vehicles has been estimated at around Rs 14 lakh.

The Lokayukta will verify documents, property records, expenditure details and other material before determining the final value of the alleged disproportionate assets.

Further action will be taken after completion of the verification process, officials said.

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