Rajkot: DM Sagathia, the suspended Town Planning Officer (TPO) of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC), was known as a highly corrupt officer, yet he remained in his position for ten years, apparently due to the support of local ruling party leaders.

Sagathia was arrested yesterday after the TRP game zone fire incident. His premises were raided by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Sagathia joined RMC as an assistant engineer in 1995. In 2014, after then TPO Rupani took voluntary retirement, Sagathia was appointed as the in-charge TPO.

Sagathia’s life journey spans from being the son of a laborer to owning an ultra-luxurious farmhouse and partnership in petrol pumps. He served as in-charge TPO from 2019 to 2023 and was made the regular TPO in 2023 by then municipal commissioner Anand Desai. Desai recently witnessed punishment transfer by the State government in the wake of TRP game zone fire incident in which 27 persons died.

Local dailies in Rajkot have raised several questions regarding Sagathia’s conduct: Did Sagathia start a snack factory under someone else’s name in partnership? Did he transfer a staff member for serving notice to TRP game zone a year ago? Whether he was taking a bribe of Rs. 7 per square foot to approve even legitimate plans? Whether he used to take partnership in percentage or a flat in high-rise projects to approve plans?

Sagathia’s farmhouse on Rajkot – Jetpur road in Gondal taluka’s Gomta is 7.5 bigha in size. The farmhouse has Sangemarmar (marble) idols from Rajasthan, a swimming pool, fountains, kids’ playground, automatic censor-locked gates, and more. Sagathia’s salary is just Rs. 75,000 per month. How come he could afford such a big farmhouse? The questions are now raised.

Sagathia’s bungalow in Anamika Society on University Road is under construction. As per rule, the bungalow construction cannot be more than 100 var, but Sagathiya is building it in a 300 var size. For this, he has combined three plots of 100 var each. Meanwhile, Dipak Sindhav, a state-awarded artist, has told the media that Sagathiya is building a luxurious 300 var bungalow on a 25-sized road which is illegal. Sindhav further told media persons that Sagathia was harassing him and his family for the last two and a half years to take his house. Sagathia would park a car to block our access. Sagathia demolished a common wall and put up a window, which was shut after repeated requests. Sindhav has said that Sagathiya’s arrest is justice given by God.

While speaking to the media, Rajya Sabha member of the ruling party, Rajkot-based Ram Mokariya, yesterday said that Sagathia was the most corrupt. Mokaria further said he himself had made representations before the party regarding Sagathia’s corrupt practices, but due to recommendations from someone, Sagathia was made the regular TPO. DeshGujarat