UP vigilance raids e transport officer, recovers assets worth Rs 35 crore
The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment has recovered cash, precious metals and documents linked to assets collectively estimated at around Rs 35 crore from the Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment has recovered cash, precious metals and documents linked to assets collectively estimated at around Rs 35 crore from the Lucknow residence of a former government official in a disproportionate assets case. According to an official statement, the recoveries include Rs 1.62 crore in cash, 13 kg of gold, 9 kg of silver and papers related to movable and immovable properties and other investments. Read Full Story The raids were carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday at the residence of Lalit Kumar in Aliganj's Chandralok Colony after the Vigilance Establishment obtained a search warrant. Kumar, a former Assistant Regional Transport Officer who was posted in Agra, had earlier been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after a vigilance inquiry found that he had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The case is being investigated by the Lucknow Sector of the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment on the directions of the state government. During the search of the house, investigators found around Rs 1.62 crore in cash, which officials said had been hidden in packets at different places inside the premises. Officials also seized around 13 kg of gold in the form of bars, bricks and jewellery, along with about 9 kg of silver comprising bars, biscuits and ornaments. A government-approved valuer has estimated the value of the recovered precious metals and jewellery at around Rs 20 crore, the statement said. The search team also recovered documents related to investments in a number of movable and immovable assets.
These include several residential houses and plots in Lucknow, agricultural land in Lucknow, Barabanki and Rae Bareli districts, and bookings of flats in Lucknow and Noida. The immovable properties are estimated to be worth around Rs 13 crore. In addition, officials found documents linked to investments of more than Rs 1 crore in bank deposits, post office schemes, mutual funds and fixed deposits. Two cars, a Toyota Innova and a Hyundai i20, as well as a revolver, were also found during the searches, officials said. An inventory of household furnishings and other costly domestic items has also been prepared as part of the investigation. The Vigilance Establishment said the total value of the recovered cash, precious metals, jewellery, movable and immovable assets and investments is estimated at around Rs 35 crore.
The BriefWire