ACB had recovered gold and silver worth more than Rs. 2.7 Crores of Pranav Gandotra, the then TSO Satwari & Kerosene Oil Inspector Jammu Rural in Disproportionate Assets Case. Total value of the properties seized/attached property was Rs. 2,83,62,062
Court however maintained that de-sealing order is however without prejudice to the right and position of Anti Corruption Bureau being taken in the case that the course of action adopted by ACB to seal the property is accordance with law. The Court further ordered that the Petitioner upon her re-entry in no manner shall carry out any addition/alteration be it temporary or permanent in the residential premises
Court maintained that de-sealing is no manner shall be read as any observation on merits on the claim and the entitlement of the petitioner as set up in the present petition of seeking quashment of impugned course of action of the ACB in the matter. Accordingly the Court ordered that compliance to this direction be carried out at the end of the ACB within period of one week.
The recovered property was well beyond his known source of income, which had been raised by Pranav Gandotra by indulging in corrupt and illegal practices and by misappropriation of funds allotted by the Government under various schemes for the welfare of poor. Consequently, case FIR No. 35/2018 u/s 5(1)(e) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 was registered in P/S VOJ (now ACB-J) against Pranav Gandotra for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known source of income
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, dec 19
High Court of J&K and Ladakh in case CRM (M) No. 325/2021 c/W CRM(M) No. 327/2021 in case titled Shashi Gandotra mother of Pranav Gandotra Vs UT of J&K and others in its order dated 8-12-2023 ordered temporarily de-sealing of residential premises a big lavish residential house reconstructed on 03 no plots i.e., plot no 60, 61 &62 situated at Sector 03 Channi Himmat Housing Colony Ward-50, Jammu which was seized by ACB and recovered gold and silver worth more than Rs. 2.7 Crores of Pranav Gandotra, the then TSO Satwari & Kerosene Oil Inspector Jammu Rural in Disproportionate Assets Case. Total value of the properties seized/attached property is Rs. 2,83,62,062. However physical de-sealing was done dated 18-12-2023.
Hon’ble Court in its de-sealing order said that the petitioner (Shashi Gandotra) Mother of Pranav Gandotra is in a ailing state is finding herself out of her residential house which has come under a physical sealing at the end of Anti Corruption Bureau. The Court however maintained that de-sealing order is however without prejudice to the right and position of Anti Corruption Bureau being taken in the case that the course of action adopted by ACB to seal the property is accordance with law. The Court further ordered that the Petitioner upon her re-entry in no manner shall carry out any addition/alteration be it temporary or permanent in the residential premises.
It deserves mentioning here that the petitioner with respect to the house in reference an FIR No. 0099/2023 was registered with the Police Station Channi Himmat Jammu for alleged commission of theft. The Court also directed the Anti Corruption Bureau to depute its officers and also directed SHO Police Station Channi Himmat Jammu to accompany the deputed officials of the ACB to enter into House premises of the petitioner and prepare an inspection report about the state of things inside the premises including the status of household articles items which came to be inventoried at the time of sealing of the house and accordingly SHO Police station Channi Himmat Jammu to deal with the investigation of FIR in reference.
The Court maintained that de-sealing is no manner shall be read as any observation on merits on the claim and the entitlement of the petitioner as set up in the present petition of seeking quashment of impugned course of action of the ACB in the matter. Accordingly the Court ordered that compliance to this direction be carried out at the end of the ACB within period of one week. Worthwhile to mention here that Case FIR No. 21/2018 was registered on the basis of a written complaint alleging therein that Pranav Gandotra while posted as Incharge TSO Rajouri and Kalakote received huge amount from Asstt. Director CA&PD department Rajouri, meant to be disbursed among private ration dealers on account of handling charges in district Rajouri and the said officer disbursed lesser amount to the private dealers and has wrongly withdrawn the remaining amount from Bank/treasury. It was alleged that on the one hand the said I/C TSO reflected in the official record the disbursement of whole amount, but on the other hand credited lesser payment in the bank accounts of private ration dealers and in this way, he has misappropriated the remaining amount by manipulating the office record.
On prima facie establishment of criminal misconduct, Case FIR No. 21/2018 was registered and house searches at residential premises of accused situated at Sector No. 3 Channi Himmat Jammu and Flat Nos. 1203 & 1204 Block A Royal Palm Apartment Akhnoor Jammu, were conducted on 19-07-2018, which led to recovery/seizure of incriminating material with respect to immovable/movable property and gold/silver ornaments worth crores of rupees. As the recovered property was well beyond his known source of income, which has been raised by him by indulging in corrupt and illegal practices and by misappropriation of funds allotted by the Government under various schemes for the welfare of poor.Consequently, case FIR No. 35/2018 u/s 5(1)(e) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt. 2006was registered in P/S VOJ (now ACB-J) against Pranav Gandotra, presently posted as Incharge TSO Satwari&Incharge K. Oil Inspector Jammu Rural-I, FCS&CA Jammu for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known source of income.
During further course of investigation in Case FIR No. 35/2018, it revealed that accused has raised movable and immovable properties in his name and in the name of his family members which include a)luxurious house hold items b) costly electronics gadgets c) luxurious vehicles etc through the ill gotten money which include a big lavish residential house reconstructed after merging 03 no plots i.e., plot no 60, 61 & 62 situated at Sector 03 Channi Himmat, Jammu worth Rs. 1,48,23,502/- (cost assessed by Engineering wing of ACB Jammu and EMRE division II Gandhi Nagar Jammu) and Gold ornaments – 4kg 361 gms and Silver articles(ornaments & utensils) – 11 kg 389 gms worth Rs. 1,35,38,560 as per prevalent market rates. The investigation further revealed that a substantial amount of ill gotten money has been used by the accused to acquire the above mentioned movable and immovable properties. The accused had raised these properties/assets by corrupt practices and dishonest means during his service career as a public servant. There were apprehensions that accused may dispose of these assets raised through ill gotten money, raised by accused from proceeds of ill gotten money by indulging in corrupt and illegal practices, as such provisions of section 8-B of Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 had been invoked. The above mentioned properties were attached and seized by investigating officer and team of ACB J&K in presence of magistrate, independent witness and local police.
