Assets in kin’s name expose TN officer’s corruption

CHENNAI: Being corrupt is not easy, it seems. One may end up buying properties in the name of the father of her colleague with the money amassed via illegal ways, and still get caught by the anti-corruption wing.

That’s what sleuths from DVAC Chennai found out recently in the case of C Malathi (52), works as Project Director, District Rural Development Agencies, Vellore. During investigation, the team found that that she had not bought any new property or have any registered in her name.

But that never stopped the DVAC from digging deep and unearthing details. She had purchased over Rs 2 crore worth properties in her mother’s name and had also registered a few in the name of her colleague’s father.

The DVAC has named only Malathi in the list of accused. Malathi, residing in Chinna Kanchipuram, does not have any ancestral property. The officer is unmarried and living with her father.

“From 1 April 2013 to 31 October 2018, she had intentionally amassed wealth illicitly by abusing her period of office at various places,” said DVAC in an FIR registered last week. “She did not acquire any property in her name during the check period.”

Though none of her family members have sufficient pecuniary means, the accused officer was in possession of pecuniary resources and properties in the form of lands, vacant house site and agriculture land in the name of her mother, and also the father of a person working as project director of Villupuram in the same department.

Assets found in the name of her mother before commencement of the check period was over Rs lakh. But between April and October, she had acquired assets worth Rs 2.45 crore in her mother’s name and also in the name of the father of project director in Villupuram.

After considering her likely savings, genuine income and expenditure the DVAC has pegged her disproportionate asset value around Rs 2.07 crore, which is 515% excess than her income generated through known sources.