Ahmedabad’s corrupt chief city planner suspended,sent to remand

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation today suspended Chief City Planner Navneet Baleva, who was caught red handed while accepting Rs two lakh bribe from a builder on Thursday by Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB). Baleva was sent to four days remand by a court in Ahmedabad.

Baleva had demanded Rs.10 lakh to clear a file for betterment charges. While accepting the first installment, he was caught in ACB net.

The case

Rajesh and Prakash Lalwani, small-time builders were trying to get Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s clearance to allow occupants to Kubernagar based Krishnakunj Housing Society constructed by them. This 18-bungalow scheme was completed in 2008 but Lalwanis could not bring occupants as Municipal Corporation’s clearance was pending. Municipal Chief City Planner Navneet Baleva wanted Rs 10 lakh to clear Lalwanis’ file. Lalwanis could not afford to pay this sum.

Lalwanis had followed all the procedures to build society but they had not building use permission, for which they were supposed to deposit Rs. 4 lakh betterment charge to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. They needed a recommendation letter from Baleva for betterment charges. Baleva demanded Rs 10 lakh for that. Lalwani contacted a survey boy Jayant Maru who works with Baleva. Maru took Rs 10000 and demanded total Rs 25000 to convince Baleva to accept Rs 4.35 lakh. Lalwanis took help of theie friend and anti-Asaram Bapu movement’s leader Prakash Kapadia(Jaagega Gujarat Sangharsh Samiti) to file a complaint with the Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB). When Baleva asked Lalwani to deliver first installment of bribe, Rs 2 lakh on Thursday, ACB took position near Baleva’s office and caught him red handed.