AGRIPADA INSTITUTE IN BRIBE ROW - ACB probing if school collected Rs 40 lakh illegally

Mateen Hafeez & Vinamrata Borwankar





Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB), which trapped the principal and a senior clerk of St Joseph's High School at Agripada for allegedly accepting Rs 2,000 from a parent for handing over an SSC marksheet and a leaving certificate, is probing allegations that the school trust made Rs 40 lakh illegally.

 “We have received two letters from parents and the education department alleging that Rs 40 lakh was collected by the school from the students. It's a criminal misconduct, if proved. We are investigating it,“ said Vishwas Nangre Patil, additional commissioner of police, ACB. The ACB on Friday booked principal Sister Lovena Almeida and clerk Victorian Barett under the Prevention of Corruption Act and are seeking legal opinion and permis sion from the education department on their arrest. ACB sources said there were many such complaints from parents.
According to education officials, aided schools cannot charge any fee apart from tuition fee. However, Father George Athaide, secretary of the ABE, which governs the school, blamed the state government. “The government has not given aided schools non-salary grants since 2004. Hence, for amenities such as electricity and infrastructure, the school needs to collect funds and this is done in consultation with the parents. The school managements have also appointed teachers at their own expenses. The government should give the grants or schools will have to function without amenities.“ But Patil said: “Many parents claimed that the school has been charging Rs 2,000 for issuing marksheet and leaving certificate in the name of maintenance. Collecting money in such a way is illegal. Though the school issues receipt of the payment, it surprisingly contains the address of a parent and not that of the school on it. We are trying to establish in whose pocket the money went.“
ACB sources said they were trying to find out whether or not any bank account was maintained for such money . “If the money has been taken for good cause, they should show us,“ said an officer.





The Times of India, June 29, 2014

ACB appeals to students to file graft complaints

Move After Khalsa College Bribery Case

Mateen Hafeez





Mumbai: Following the arrest of Ajit Singh Teti, principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Matunga, and his personal assistant Nikita Vaid for accepting bribe for a Class XII admission last week, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has appealed to students to approach them with a complaint if anybody demands bribe.

Vishwas Nangre Patil, additional CP, ACB, said since the admission season is on, agents and middlemen could be active.
“Agents look for ways to cheat students and their parents during new admissions. We appeal to students to approach us if someone demands money other than the admission fee. We have started collecting intelligence inputs about such agents and will take stern ac tion against them,“ said Patil.
Last week, the ACB had arrested Teti and had arrested Teti and Vaid for accepting Rs 25,000 bribe for a Class XII admission. The alleged racket was brought to light by sales tax inspector Vasant Utikar, who was trying to get his daughter admitted to the college. He said when he approached Vaid for admission under the management quota, she demanded Rs 50,000 and said no receipt would be given. After bargaining, the sum was brought down to Rs 30,000.
ACB officials said most of the time in big institutions, the management is not even aware of such malpractices by middlemen/agents. The ACB is taking help from an NGO, Center for Ethics and Education, in tackling corruption in colleges. “In some cases, we have heard that the management itself appoints agents to deal with the candidate and collect money . Our intelligence wing is working on some leads,“ said an ACB official.
Students from across the country come to Mumbai for admission to reputed colleges. “Sometimes, they are contacted by agents who mislead them,“ the official said. What if a student complains and is harassed by college staff ? “The parents may become complainants in such cases. The ACB acts promptly .
It's a matter of a day to arrest a corrupt official,“ he added.

May 15, 2014, The Times of India

ACB to probe realty deals of Khalsa college graft accused

Principal Sent To Arthur Road Jail From Hosp

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Officials investigating the bribery case involving Guru Nanak Khalsa College principal Ajit Teti and his assistant Nikita Vaid have begun an inquiry to ascertain if the two amassed assets disproportionate to known income sources. 

    Teti, who had been admitted to Sion Hospital after he complained of chest pain, was sent back to Arthur Road jail on Sunday. Vaid will be housed in Byculla’s women’s prison till May 23. 

    Under the new inquiry, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) will examine the accused’s bank accounts, pore over their cash purchases and real estate transactions during the last couple of years. “Our investigation is on track. It is difficult to determine the exact number of cases that Teti and Vaid may be involved in,” said an ACB official. “However, we have started the disproportionate assets inquiry simultaneously with our investigation. If we find evidence, then another FIR will be registered later,” he added. ACB officials said they had not received any communication from the three-member panel constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to probe allegations of bribery. 

    The alleged racket was brought to light by sales tax inspector Vasant Utikar, who was trying to get his daughter, Mansi, enrolled at the Matunga college. He said when he approached Vaid for admission under the management quota, she demanded Rs 50,000 and said no receipt would be given. After bargaining, the amount was brought down to Rs 30,000.
 

UNDER THE LENS

    Ajit Teti, principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College and his aide, Nikita Vaid, are arrested under the Prevention of Corrpution Act on May 8 after they allegedly accept 25,000 bribe for Class XII admission
    A sum of 4 lakh and 5 blank signed admission forms are found in Vaid’s purse
    Fixed deposit slips and proof of savings totalling 11 lakh are recovered from Vaid’s home
 

SGPC Panel In City

A three-member panel appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to probe allegations of bribery has requested people to come forward with complaints regarding the Khalsa college administration. On Monday, a camp will be organized by the SGPC panel on campus to look into grievances 

 

The Times of India, May 12, 2014

Spy cameras game changers in rounding up scamsters

PROACTIVE ROLE FOR INTEL UNIT

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) intelligence wing has ferreted out instances of graft due to the use of sophisticated gadgets and by cutting red tape.

 

    The agency registered 350 cases across Maharashtra between January and April and arrested 477 government officials for demanding or pocketing bribes. Sources said the agency would earlier rely on taped telephonic conversations as evidence in bribery trials. “We are required to do some legwork to establish that there was a bribe demand. We have supplied our personnel with spy cameras concealed in pens, wristwatches and keychains to obtain clear footage and arrest the persons concerned following a p a n c h n a m a,” said the official.
 

    Earlier the agency focused on the cases that it received, but now proactive investigators are increasingly using the ACB’s intelligence unit to ensnare scamsters. “The officials, who have been entrusted with the task of getting intelligence on corrupt government servants, also encourage harassed citizens to approach the ACB. The motivation 

 
part is very important,” said an ACB officer. “Our sleuths guide citizens and then it is up to the victim to come forward and lodge a complaint,” he added. The arrest of Arthur Road jail superintendent, Vasudev Barkule, and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, was the result of ACB’s intelligence wing’s legwork. “Our officials got information that the accused had demanded a bribe from a jailor to clear him in an internal exam. The ACB official encouraged the person concerned to report the matter and expose the wrongdoing,” an ACB source said. “The complainant approached us around 11am and we recorded his statement, corroborated the details and laid a trap by 7pm on the same day at Arthur Road prison,” he added. Hidden cameras were used in the top-secret operation.

The Times of India, May 12, 2014

Arthur Road jail chief’s wealth touches 2 crore

The Arthur Road jail, where Vasudev Barkule is now kept after his arrest in a graft case

S Ahmed Ali & Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raid on Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Barkule’s ancestral home in Nanded on Tuesday resulted in the recovery of assets and cash that added Rs 55 lakh to his wealth.  The total haul from the ACB investigation into a bribery case against Barkule has been Rs 2 crore so far.
 

    Barkule has been kept in an isolated cell which was earlier used by the security guards of executed Pakistani gunman, Ajmal Kasab. The jail constables who used to be posted for security in different barracks on Barkule’s order are now monitoring him.
 

    ACB officials led by NV Deshmukh have been camping in Nanded since Barkule’s arrest in the corruption case last week, but could not conduct the search operations earlier as a result of the election in Nanded.
 

    In Barkule’s house at Tajnagar in Nanded alone, the police found Rs 2.31 lakh in cash, fixed deposits of Rs 25 lakh, a fixed deposit of Rs 10.50 lakh in his wife’s name
and gold ornaments worth Rs 18 lakh.
   

 “We are still searching and are yet to calculate the value of properties spread elsewhere,” an officer said.   The officer said a case of disproportionate assets had been registered against Barkule.

    Barkule and deputy superintendent Pradeep Pathrikar were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 from a candidate appearing for the jailor’s exam early this month.
 

    In the city, the police found Rs 40 lakh in cash from Barkule’s jail residence, besides gold, savings and FDs in banks amounting to more than Rs 1 crore.
 

    Now in jail, Barkule has refused to give an application for home-made food.
 

    “He is saying the jail food is healthy and hygienic and he would prefer having the same food which is prepared by the inmates for prisoners. Barkule’s official residence is just 100 metres from his cell,” an officer said.
 

    Barkule’s wife and children live at his residence. “Even if his family want to meet him, they will have to go and register themselves outside the prison and come in the queue like common people and meet him for a few minutes,” the officer said.

 

The Times of India, April 23, 2014

RTO official held for graft, 80 lakh seized at home

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Saturday evening arrested an assistant RTO attached with the Andheri RTO for accepting a Rs 1,500 bribe from a private bus operator. A search at accused Rajendra Nerkar’s Mulund home led to the seizure of Rs 80 lakh. 

    Additional commissioner of police Vishwas Nangre-Patil said, “The private bus operator had not paid his taxes on time and had been fined. When he approached Nerkar, he was directed to a middleman, J Moreshwar, through whom Nerkar demanded a bribe of Rs 1,500,” said Patil. Moreshwar, too, has been arrested.
 

    Cops also searched Nerkar’s home and found Rs 80 lakh stashed in a cupboard and at other places. The police also found property documents and are going through them to determine Nerkar’s ownership. —  Mateen Hafeez 

The Times of India, April 20, 2014

Basic amenities in prison come at a price: Inmates

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of top Arthur Road jail officials—superintendent Vasudev Barkule and his deputy Pradip Pathrikar—for accepting a bribe to clear a candidate in an examination for jailors has blown the lid off graft behind bars.
 

    Jail inmates are, however, trapped in a vicious circle. They claim that there is a price tag on staples in prison.
 

    A blast accused, who is now out on bail, said corruption in prison starts at the gate. “Several prisoners are brought to Arthur Road jail daily. They are frisked by inmates and babas (as jail constables are referred) at the entry gate. Most of them bring some cash and conceal it in shirt sleeves, collars, trousers and innerwear,” said the blast accused.
 

    Before the frisking starts, all new prisoners are instructed to deposit their belongings with the authorities. However, many inmates do not heed the directive. “The money recovered while searching prisoners is seized and most of it goes to jail staffers,” he added.
 

    Even a “suitable” barrack comes for a price. “The wellheeled, who have never committed a crime in the past, would not like to be accommodated with hardened criminals. They pay to get a separate barrack,” said a source. Pillows and bed sheets, which an inmate is entitled to free of cost, are soiled and prisoners have to grease palms to get fresh ones.
 

    A developer, who spent four days in Arthur Road jail last year, said, “I was surprised when a habitual offender approached me and rattled off details of the case against me. He demanded money for not creating trouble for me in the jail.” Prison coupons that inmates use instead of cash can be purchased on the black market. “Hundred coupons are valued at Rs 100. Inmates sell 70 coupons for Rs 100 and jail staffers are aware of the practice,” said a source.
 

COMFY IN CAPTIVITY 500-1K | Accommodating inmates in a “suitable” barrack 

200-500 | Getting fresh pillows or bed sheets 

100–500 | Meeting relatives for longer time 

1K–5K | Relaying messages outside prison 

200–1K | Housing new prisoners with “peace-loving” inmates

The Times of India, April 20, 2014

Prison staff exam under cloud after graft arrests

Internal Exam Likely To Be Conducted Again

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of Arthur Road prison’s two senior-most officials has cast a shadow on the internal exam process. Prison authorities are now considering conducting re-examination of the internal papers for promotions and increment.
 

    The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy Pradip Pathrikar for demanding and accepting a Rs 40,000 bribe for clearing a candidate in an exam for jailors.
 

    Meeran Borwankar, additional director general of prisons, said, “A re-examination of papers is under consideration.” As many as 30 jailors appeared for the departmental test that makes them eligible for increment and promotions, if they pass it. Describing the procedure, a jail official in Mumbai said, “When constables complete five to seven years in jail service, they can appear for the departmental exam for the post of jailor. Even if they pass the examination and become jailors, they have to clear an internal test for increment and promotions. If they pass it, they are eligible for all facilities; however, if anyone fails to clear the exam after five attempts, they have to continue serving as jail constables.” 

    The complainant in Thursday’s case, a jail officer, had taken the exam for the post of jailor held on March 25. When the exam papers went to Burkule for assessment, the complainant approached Pathrikar for help to clear the exams. When Burkule was told this, he said the complainant’s performance in the exam was “weak”, and demanded Rs 40,000 to clear him. Burkule was caught by the ACB. 

    The charge held by Burkule’s charge has been given to Thane jail’s superintendent G T Pawar. Burkule and Pathrikar have been sent to police custody till April 19. The ACB team recovered Rs 40 lakh and gold ornaments from Barkule’s official residence on the prison premises. He also has money in several savings accounts and fixed deposits worth over Rs 1 crore.
 

    While conviction rate in ACB cases is as low as 30%, officials feel the agency needs legal officers for each officer at the superintendent of police level. At present, there is only one legal officer for the state ACB.

The Times of India, April 19, 2014

Authorities checking out lapses in jail

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The city crime branch may write to the state prison authorities to investigate how a mobile phone, SIM card and battery were smuggled into the Arthur Road jail and used by a quadruple murder suspect, Uday Pathak. He has been taken into crime branch custody for allegedly running criminal activities from within the jail. 

    The vigilance department of the state prisons is checking out the lapses and will submit a report to the inspector general of prisons. However, the use of a phone highlights the urgent need for jammers at the state’s most sensitive prison. “Five mobile firms have given demos but nothing has been installed. It could be delayed due to some technical reason,” a jail official said.
    In December 2005, a cell phone, some batteries and SIM cards were recovered from gangster Chhota Rajan’s aide D K Rao. 

    Rao, who was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, is currently out of jail. TOI had reported how phones were being used by Rao and other Dawood gang members in the jail. Officials blame the security lapse on the delay in installing jammers, priced Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. 

    The prison’s vigilance squad conducts surprise checks but inmates are often tipped off. “We take precautions to prevent smuggling. After every incident, we review the problem and try to control it,” the official said. 

    The phone used by Rao was provided by three constables posted there, officials said. Rao, arrested for opening fire on a police team and attempting to kill them in 1998, was sentenced to a decade in prison. 

    In 2010, Devendra Naidu (40), a robber, allegedly belonging to the Rajan gang, was caught at the gate of the jail while trying to smuggle in a liquor bottle and a cake. Sources said Naidu was carrying in the stuff to celebrate Rajan’s birthday. 

 

 

The Times of India, April 18, 2014

Arthur Rd jail chief, deputy held for graft

Mateen Hafeez & S Ahmed Ali TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau on Wednesday night arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 for clearing a candidate in an examination for jailors.
 

    The police recovered Rs 40 lakh and gold ornaments from Barkule’s jail residence in Byculla, and found he had savings accounts and bank fixed deposits amounting to more than Rs 1 crore.
 

    Cases of corruption within the state’s most sensitive jail have been reported earlier, but this is the first time the superintendent of the prison, where Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab was kept, has been found to be involved in a bribery case.
 

   The complainant, a jail officer, had appeared for an examination for the post of jailor on March 25. The exam papers came to Burkule for assessment. The complainant approached Pathrikar for help to clear the exams. When the matter reached Burkule, he said the complainant’s performance in the exam was “weak” and demanded Rs 40,000 to clear him.  

 

ACB listened in on phone call with prison chief 

    The superintendent of Arthur Road Jail, Vasudev Burkule, and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, have been arrested in a case of bribery. 

    “The complainant (a jail officer) came to us at 11.30am on Wednesday and narrated his story. We went through his application and then set a trap,” said Vishwas Nangre-Patil, additional commissioner of police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).  Three police inspectors and 16 constables led by an assistant commissioner reached the jail at 7pm. The complainant went to Pathrikar’s residence, adjacent to the jail, and before handing him over the money, called up Burkule at 7.17pm. He spoke to him till 7.47pm, and later again for two minutes. The conversations included a demand for a bribe. 

    The ACB team entered the house soon after Pathrikar accepted the bribe on behalf of Burkule, and placed him under arrest. The team then headed to the jail, where Burkule stays in the barracks.
    When the team knocked on his door and told him they were from the ACB, he tried to be aggressive. 

    “Burkule surrendered after hearing that Pathrikar had already been arrested. We found Rs 70,000 in his pocket. The two sales tax officers, who acted as independent panchas, displayed their IDs too,” said additional CP, ACB, Vishwas Nangre-Patil. 

    The police team used wristwatch, pen and keychain cameras in the top-secret operation.  Burkule and Pathrikar, who have been suspended, have been remanded in police custody till April 19.  

 

JAILHOUSE ROCKED BY GRAFT
 

TOP SECRET OPERATION The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Wednesday night arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of 40,000 for clearing a candidate in an exam for jailors
 

ACTION TAKEN The two have been suspended, and have been remanded to police custody till April 19
 

WHAT WAS RECOVERED A search of Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule resulted in the recovery of 40 lakh, a State Bank of India (Nanded) fixed deposit (FD) of 12.50 lakh, Bank of Maharashtra (Nanded) FD of 5 lakh, 5 lakh in a savings account, 75 tolas gold in a locker, and SBI (Agripada) 20 lakh in a savings account. Nothing incriminating was found at the residence of his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar
 

THE ROT INSIDE
    Other sources of income in jail
    Regular flow of money from inmates and relatives for facilities
    Home food, cigarettes and cell phones regularly supplied inside
    Two jail officials were suspended for negligence following attack on gangster Abu Salem inside Taloja jail 

WHO STAYED THERE Gangsters Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and Arun Gawli, all 1993 serial bomb blast accused, Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab and Indian Mujaheedin members  

 

TIMES VIEW:  

This is not only about corruption. It’s a serious security threat if people in charge of the state’s most sensitive prison are found to be compromised. The government needs to take more care when it comes to such sensitive appointments. It’s not any prison we are talking about; this concerns the Arthur Road jail, which hosts prisoners like Ajmal Kasab.

The Times of India, April 18, 2014

BMC official in cop custody till Monday

Chandrashekhar Rokade outside a special court on Saturday

S Ahmed Ali, Mateen Hafeez & Shawan Sen TNN

Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation deputy commissioner (encroachment) Chandrashekar Rokade, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh , was remanded in police custody till September 12 by the special ACB court. Rokade was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Rokade’s lawyer argued that he had been framed in the case. But ACB officials told the court that they had strong evidence to prove that Rokade had demanded and accepted the bribe. “On Friday, after accepting the bribe, Rokade immediately wiped his hands on his trousers to ensure that the powder (used to nail him for evidence) did not remain. But we seized his trousers as well,” said an officer.

The ACB slueths also told the court that they had video clippings in which Rokade could be seen demanding money and accepting it. According to the ACB officials, they reached Rokade’s office around 4.30 pm. “The complainant went inside Rokade’s office with the bribe money. When we entered his office, he was in a hurry and tried to resist. “Mujhe phansaya ja raha hai,” Rokade told us,” said an officer. The money, said sources, was hidden in Rokade’s private washroom. “It was hidden behind the window grille. We seized the currency notes from there,” the officer added.

Searches were conducted at his Haji Ali flat and the police found some documents that were being scrutinized. “We have found a locker in his name,” the officer said.

Talking about the case, the police officer said, “Rokade received the first instalment of the bribe (Rs 2 lakh) in June. He issued a notice to the complainants saying their work was not up to the mark and he could cancel the tender. The Rs 9-crore tender was given to the complainant’s firm but Rokade demanded more money not to cancel their tender.”

Meanwhile, corporators said Rokade’s arrest would further damage the civic body’s image. “It’s an open secret that the civic body is a hotbed of corruption. Such incidents are unacceptable,” said corporator Vinod Shekhar. In the past, Rokade had been accused of partisanship in various tenders related to encroachment. Last month, the standing committee had initiated two points of order against Rokade.

“One of the points of order was related to the auction of scrap material collected during the encroachment drive, whereby Rokade was accused of favouring a single company. In the other, he was again accused of favouring another particular company for the vehicles used for the encroachment drive,” said standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale.

Activists, however, have questioned the probity of the standing committee. “This incident has disappointed us as we have worked very closely with Rokade on hawkers’ eviction. It turns out that he, too, has feet of clay. After this incident, we will no longer believe civic officials on face value,” said activist Anandini Thakoor.

The Times of India, September 12, 2011

POSER FOR COPS

ACB seeks exec magistrate for identity parade

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has written to the revenue department seeking an executive magistrate for an identification parade of suspected policemen who tried to extort money from a transporter.

The suspects posed as policemen from deputy commissioner of police (zone-VII) Sanjay Shintre’s special squad. “They took money from the complainant and threatened him with legal action, claiming they were from the special squad. We are working on the case with whatever clues we have,” a senior ACB officer said.

The complainant is a clearing agent at the Mulund check naka. The ACB officer said investigations were at a crucial stage. “The transporter had apparently evaded octroi; the suspects came to know about it. Initially, the transporter paid the money, but when the amount was increased, he approached the ACB,” the officer said.

Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, ACB, said that according to the complaint, four persons posing as policemen had approached him.

Two agents, Rahul and Vishal, have been arrested in connection with the case. “We will go through the identification procedure before taking further action,” an ACB official said. “We have collected evidence against the ‘policemen’. As per the circumstance of the case and the nature of the complaint, we suspect that the culprits committed such crimes in the past as well. But we need more people to come forward with complaints.”


The Times of India, January 10, 2011

ACB seeks exec magistrate for identity parade

POSER FOR COPS

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has written to the revenue department seeking an executive magistrate for an identification parade of suspected policemen who tried to extort money from a transporter.

The suspects posed as policemen from deputy commissioner of police (zone-VII) Sanjay Shintre’s special squad. “They took money from the complainant and threatened him with legal action, claiming they were from the special squad. We are working on the case with whatever clues we have,” a senior ACB officer said.

The complainant is a clearing agent at the Mulund check naka. The ACB officer said investigations were at a crucial stage. “The transporter had apparently evaded octroi; the suspects came to know about it. Initially, the transporter paid the money, but when the amount was increased, he approached the ACB,” the officer said.

Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, ACB, said that according to the complaint, four persons posing as policemen had approached him.

Two agents, Rahul and Vishal, have been arrested in connection with the case. “We will go through the identification procedure before taking further action,” an ACB official said. “We have collected evidence against the ‘policemen’. As per the circumstance of the case and the nature of the complaint, we suspect that the culprits committed such crimes in the past as well. But we need more people to come forward with complaints.”


The Times of India, January 10, 2011

‘Arrested ATS cop probed sensitive cases’

Corrupt? Inspector Arun Khanvilkar

Tainted Officer Questioned Sadhvi Pragya, Zabihuddin

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Senior inspector Arun Khanvilkar, suspended on corruption charges, has handled sensitive terror cases for the anti-terrorism squad (ATS).

Khanvilkar has been part of investigations, like the Aurangabad arms haul case, in which the police seized 43 kg RDX, 50 hand grenades, 3,200 bullets and 16 AK-47 assault rifles. The wanted accused in this case is Zabihuddin Ansari whom the Intelligence Bureau suspect to be the local hand in the 26/11 terror attack.

During the probe into 20-08 Malegaon bomb blast, prime accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur had accused Khanvilkar of torturing her and taking down false statement. “He has been part of such sensitive cases and we cannot off-hand rule out the possibility of him taking bribes from suspects,’’ an ATS officer said, adding that he was also part of the team that probed the 2006 train blasts case. Around 1,000 people were rounded up to ATS offices for questioning after which 13 were arrested.

Khanvilkar’s alleged act of harassing and extorting money from people, which is now out in the open, has prompted officials to go back to the “extra-sensitive’’ cases as they believe he might have threatened innocent people and amassed money. “Conversely, he could also have taken money from someone to shield a particular person,’’ an official said. Khanvilkar used to head the ATS police station at Kalachowkie.

Khanvilkar, along with two of his aides, was arrested on February 8 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 7.5 lakh from a gambling den-owner. This is the first time that an ATS officer has been arrested in a bribery case. “It’s a shameful act by Khanvilkar,’’ said ATS chief Krish Pal Raghuvanshi.

The ATS officer would rather focus on petty cases than keeping contact with sources in terror-related cases, an official said.

The Times of India, February 9, 2010

Police has been most corrupt govt dept for 10 years: ACB

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Is khaki the colour of corruption in the city? The city police has consistently been the most corrupt government department over the last decade, reveal anti-corruption bureau (ACB) figures. The BMC pipped it only once — in 2008 — and exactly 251 cops have been arrested in corruption cases over the past 10 years.

If we go by ACB records, the maximum number of policemen charged with corruption came in 2003 — a total of 60 cops. “Policemen are more visible and they have more contacts with the public than personnel from other departments. So, there are more complaints against them,’’ an ACB officer said.

A senior Mumbai police officer refused to comment, saying it was “not a positive thing to comment on’’. The city police, he added, had installed banners at almost all police stations explaining that both offering and accepting bribe were offences. “But all this is not yielding any results.’’

The only change came in 2008, when the BMC topped the corruption list with 26 of its personnel being investigated for corruption allegations. The number of policemen suspected to be involved in corruption in 2008 was 19.

And the ACB cases not only relate to those in which cops were trapped while accepting a bribe. There have been numerous cases when policemen have been caught forcing small-time businessmen to cough up money from ATMs. There have also been cases of policemen found to possess assets disproportionate to their official income. Suspended encounter specialist Daya Nayak was arrested in such a case a few years ago. “But it becomes difficult to prove these cases,’’ an officer said.

Former IPS officer-turnedlawyer Y P Singh, who has written a book, Carnage by Angels, focusing on the corruption in the police department, said, “Corruption comes to notice more often in the police force as they take bribes from innocent people who then complain to the ACB. In other cases of corruption, like between a builder and the BMC or between a tax evader and a tax officer, both parties gain and hence no one files a formal complaint. That is the reason why the ACB should pursue more such cases. That only will tackle the problem of collusive corruption being practised by high-level politicians and bureaucrats.’’

The Times of India, January 30, 2010

Mumbai cops top city’s annual corruption list

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: For the sixth consecutive year, the Mumbai police have topped the city’s annual corruption index. At the second place is the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, with 16 of its employees caught red-handed for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes.

According to the list prepared by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB), 29 policemen were charged in 16 cases related to graft, resulting in the department topping the list for 2006.

The 29 black sheep include a woman constable, who was arrested for demanding a bribe of Rs 1,000 for returning the cellphone of a complainant, and a sub-inspector and a constable who went to the extent of withdrawing money from an accused’s savings bank account using his ATM card in return for shielding him in court. Asked to comment, former IPS officer Y P Singh said, “Senior police officers themselves don’t have impeccable integrity. There is an informal ban on holding frank discussions on corruption in official meetings and conferences. Sensitivity to moral values is also declining very fast.’’

But in what may come as a relief for the department, no senior policeman came under the ACB’s scanner last year. The highest ranking cop to be arrested in 2006 was suspended inspector Baban Kadam, who involved in a case of disproportionate assets. In 2005, the ACB had arrested senior inspector Sahebrao Survade of RAK Marg police station along with a constable for accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000.

Also, if the ACB’s lists are anything to go by, corruption is actually declining in the police department. In 2003, 60 cops were arrested for demanding bribes, while in 2006 the figure plummeted by half.

BLACK SHEEP
Police: 29
BMC: 16
Revenue: 12
Rationing: 8
Charity: 4
State Excise: 4

The Times of India, January 17, 2007

Government drags feet in giving ACB green signal

Only Seven Govt Employees Prosecuted This Year As Opposed To 37 Last Year

By Mateen Hafeez/TNN

Mumbai: The state government is taking its own time to clear files put up by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), seeking permission to prosecute arrested government officials.

The state government has sanctioned the prosecution of only seven government employees this year as compared to 37 last year.ACB sources said most of the files, sanctioned in 2005, were sent to the home department last year. During 2004, at least 50 government employees were trapped by the ACB.

An ACB official said that, according to Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988, it was compulsory to take prior permission from a ‘competent authority’ to prosecute an accused who was a government employee. In case of a gazetted officer, the competent authority is either the state government or the central government. A chargsheet, too, needs a prior permission.

According to a police official in the ACB, the state government had cleared the files of all the government servants who were accused in the infamous Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) scam. Around 27 persons, most of them government employees, were arrested for malpractices, forgery and replacing the original answersheets with duplicate copies.

The original answersheets of over 398 candidates, who appeared in MPSC examination, were later scrutinised by the ACB during the investigation. Former Maharashtra Public Service Commission chairman Shashikant Karnik was also held in this case. All the accused in this scam were chargsheeted.

ACB officials said that they had sent the file to the central government asking permission to prosecute Rahul Gopal, former managing director of the state police housing corporation, who was caught in December last year. Gopal was accused of “favouring a housing project contractor, Govind Chandak’’. The ACB had also found Rs 1 lakh in his official vehicle.

“Gopal will be charghseeted and prosecuted only after the permission comes,’’ an ACB official said.

Special inspector-general (ACB) A P Dhere said: “The charghseet is filed in almost 95 per cent of the cases.”

The Times of India, July 7, 2005

ACB to move from rented place to Rs 6-cr office

By Mateen Hafeez/TNN

Mumbai: Here’s some good news for the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). It will soon be saved from having to pay over Rs 42.24 lakh as annual rent for its 16,000-sq-ft office at Worli as the state has sanctioned its longpending proposal for a new office at Worli Naka.

Work on the Rs 6-crore, plush seven-storeyed office is likely to start in August. But a new building is not the only change the ACB has planned for itself; the new building will be equipped with over 75 computers and is now negotiating with four agencies to computerise its over-a-decade-old data from paper to computer.

“We are negotiating with several agencies to computerise our data and, once this is done, we will start work on the computerisation of data,’’ special inspector-general, ACB,, Anil Dhere said. This, officials said, will help save time as they would not need to hunt for old records.,

The new building will accommodate its Mumbai unit officers on the second and third floors. The state ACB officers will work from the fourth and fifth floors. Officers of the additional commissioner rank and above will work from the sixth floor and the seventh floor will have a conference room.

The first floor will have separate changing rooms for male and female personnel, a canteen, a reception, a separate room for drivers and a new library.

An officer said that the new building would also have a “strongroom’’ to keep all seizures. The ACB now keeps all seizures in an old room filled up with hundreds of files and other stuff.

But the new office, unlike the one in use right now, will not have a lock-up. “When we arrest someome, we usually keep him/her in the custody of the nearest police station. A lot of security bandobast is required if we want to keep the accused here,” an ACB officer said.

The Times of India, June 20, 2005