ACB books Mumbai ARTO for disproportionate assets

Nashik: The Nashik anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has lodged a complaint against an assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) in connection with disproportionate assets case.
As per the complaint, the transport department official — currently attached with the Andheri (Mumbai) office — has accumulated wealth more than his income during his service between 1986 and 2012.The official has been booked by the Sarkarwada police under different sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A senior ACB officer from Nashik said the ARTO misused his post while being in government service and accumulated wealth of over Rs69.17 lakh other than the salary he received during his government service. Police inspector Hemantkumar Bhamre said the ARTO’s salary from government service from 1986 to 2012 was Rs97.53 lakh.
“The expenses during the same period could have been around Rs50 lakh that leads to possible savings of around Rs47 lakh. However, assets found in his possession are around Rs1.16 crore,” he said.
“The accumulated wealth from unknown sources is in the name of the official and his wife. The ARTO has worked across Maharashtra since 1986. However, in 1986 the Aurangabad ACB had laid a trap when he was attached with the Nandurbar RTO and had arrested him while accepting bribe of Rs600,” he added.
According to the officer, as soon as someone is arrested in bribery case, an inquiry is initiated into the wealth accumulated by the suspect from other than the known source of income.
“During the course of investigation, it was found that the ARTO had accumulated 70% more wealth than his source of income. The official has properties in Nashik, Thane and Kolhapur,” he said.
Another senior ACB officer said, “Though the ARTO was acquitted in bribery case earlier, the investigation into disproportionate assets accumulated by him was going on.We have collected sufficient evidence to prove him guilty. We will arrest him soon.”