DVAC books former ICDS officer for amassing disproportionate wealth

The agency said in its first information report that a detailed probe revealed that the official had accumulated wealth worth Rs 2.30 crore, which is more than four times the income earned through salary and other known sources during the check period.

As per the details available in the DVAC FIR, a detailed inquiry was conducted based on reliable information that the official, Vadivazhagi Chitaranjan, had allegedly amassed wealth in her name and also in the names of her family members while serving as the project superintendent in Perambur, and later as the project officer posted at Royapuram.

The DVAC has taken the period between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2016 as the check period to calculate her income, and found that the official had amassed wealth over and beyond her known source of income.

According to the agency, Vadivazhagi’s husband worked as a fitter at the Heavy Vehicle Factory, Avadi. Both of them together had earned a sum of Rs 42.64 lakh during the five-year check period by way of salary, GPF loans and other income. Her elder son completed BE in the year 2013 after getting admitted in management quota in a private college. He had started an infrastructure firm in which she had invested money without informing the government. In the beginning of the check period, the officer in question had possessed properties to the tune of Rs 11.36 lakh. But at the end of the period, she and her family member had managed to amass properties worth Rs 2.30 crore.

It was further learned that the family had an expense of Rs 13.43 lakh during the check period and their possible savings was pegged at Rs 29.20 lakh. After factoring in all this, the DVAC has put the alleged disproportionate income at an estimated Rs 1.90 crore. Following this, the agency booked Vadivazhagi under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Sources said further investigations were on.