Surat: The Surat city branch of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case against Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) councillor Rajesh Moradiya.

An investigation revealed that between April 2021 and March 2025, Moradiya’s assets exceeded his declared income as a councillor by Rs 29.78 lakh, or 68.5%. He was elected from Ward-2 on an AAP ticket in 2021 but was suspended from the party in 2023 following corruption allegations. Since then, he has been serving as an independent councillor.

Moradiya, along with his aide Pankaj Patel, is accused of extorting money from Varachha resident Ronak Patel, demanding Rs 7 lakh as a bribe for a temporary structure built between October and December 2024. In another case, he allegedly extorted Rs 50,000 from Varachha resident Hiren Kheni in 2023.

According to reports, the police began investigating his assets eight months ago following a citizen’s complaint. The DA case was filed by ACB police inspector K.J. Dhaduk under sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. DeshGujarat