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Panchayat head turns crorepati in one stint, faces DVAC probe
More than Rs 5 crore in just five years. That is how much a former president of a small panchayat in Kancheepuram is accused of amassing during his tenure that ended in 2016. The man, his wife and brother are now facing a case filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption wing for possessing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
According to the DVAC sleuths, D Devasitham (41), the former president of Talambur panchayat, part of Tiruporur union panchayat in Kancheepuram, his wife Bhanupriya, and his unemployed younger brother D Moses had amassed wealth misusing his position as the civic body chief.Â
Devasitham was the president of Talambur panchayat from 2012 to 2016.Â
As on January 1, 2012, Devasitham, his wife and brother together possessed properties and cash to the tune of Rs 56 lakh. But by December 31, 2016, the value of properties they owned stood at Rs 6.25 crore, a whopping growth of over 10 times.Â
During the inquiry, DVAC sleuths found that that Devasitham’s income and that of his dependents – by way of salary, house and car loans and selling immovables properties – during the check period was Rs 1.26 crore. The expenditure during the same period was Rs 78.16 lakh.Â
Thus, officers said, the suspects could have saved only Rs 49.70 lakh during that time.Â
Vigilance officers found that the three were in possession of properties and cash worth Rs 5.2 crore worth, which is disproportionate to the known sources of income of the public servant. When he was examined, Devasitham failed to provide any satisfactory reply for the exponential growth in assets. Â
Devasitham’s wife and brother have been named in the FIR that the DVAC filed, accused of abetting him in acquiring wealth disproportionate to the known sources of income by lending their names, and selling and purchasing the properties.Â
The anti-corruption agency has slapped a case against the three accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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