Gujarat govt approves confiscation of ₹23 crore disproportionate assets of former RMC TPO Sagathiya

Rajkot: The Gujarat government has approved the confiscation of assets belonging to Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Sagathiya, former Town Planning Officer (TPO) of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC), in a disproportionate assets case filed by the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

An FIR was filed at the Rajkot City ACB Police Station (Case No. 03/2024) under Sections 13(1)(B) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), an official note from ACB stated.

The accused, Mansukhbhai Sagathiya, allegedly misused his position as a public servant during his tenure as Town Planning Officer (Class-1) at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. He is accused of indulging in corrupt practices to acquire illegal wealth, which he invested in immovable and movable properties in his and his family members’ names, the release states.

According to ACB, the investigation revealed that Mansukhbhai Sagathiya had assets and investments amounting to ₹28,17,93,981, significantly exceeding his legitimate income of ₹3,86,85,647. This discrepancy of ₹24,31,08,334 (approximately ₹24.31 crore), representing an increase of 628.42%, was allegedly acquired through corrupt means during his tenure as a government officer.

The ACB found documentary evidence substantiating that Sagathiya had acquired these disproportionate assets by abusing his position and engaging in illegal activities.

A request was submitted to the Home Department of the Gujarat government to confiscate the assets, totaling ₹23,15,48,256, registered under the names of Sagathiya and his family members. Following this proposal, the Home Department has initiated the process to file an application under Section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1944, in the appropriate court for the immediate confiscation of the properties. DeshGujarat