ACB books NMC med officer Dr Gantawar, wife in DA case

Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation medical officer couple Dr Praveen Gantawar (48) and his wife Dr Sheelu (45), both residents of Fortune Residency, Ramdaspeth, was on Wednesday booked by the Nagpur unit of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a disproportionate assets case.
Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had promoted Dr Praveen Gantawar as deputy chief medical officer from the post of medical officer.The couple was suspended by the mayor Sandip Joshi at the marathon general body meeting of the civic body after a series of allegations last week. However, Mundhe refused to implement the mayor’s ruling and termed it illegal to suspend the doctor couple.
In 2015, the ACB unit had received a complaint against the doctor couple for their alleged involvement in corruption.
ACB sleuths launched an inquiry. ACB sources said they carried out detailed investigations including that of their home, bank accounts and income from salary, movable and immovable properties, money received from sale of properties. Besides, they also scrutinized income tax documents, and checked offices at Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya (Gandhi Nagar), NMC health department, Government Medical College and Hospital.
The team also procured information regarding their expenditure on children’s education and their shares in companies. The searches revealed the duo had amassed properties much higher than their known sources of income.
An official ACB release claimed Dr Gantawar during his service with the NMC’s Indira Gandhi Rugnalay from 2007 to December 2015 had acquired assets worth Rs 2.52 crore more than his known sources of income. Preliminary investigation revealed Dr Gantawar and Dr Sheelu had property that was 43.06% more than their income.
Three teams of ACB sleuths, under the leadership of superintendent of police (ACB) Rashmi Nandedkar, dySP Rajesh Dudhalwar, PI Monali Choudhary, are carrying out search operations at home and office. No arrest has been so far and the couple has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, by the Sitabuldi police.