ED Seeks Nod to Probe TDO in Rajkot Fire Case

Rajkot, Gujarat — Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought permission from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (SMC) for implicating the then Town Planning Officer (TDO) Mansukh Sagathiya, accused in the Rajkot game zone fire case, under the PMLA (money laundering) case. Since Sagathiya is a Class-1 officer, investigation by the ED will be first approved by the Standing committee and later by the general board. 

Sources said that the Standing Committee of RMC will formally consent the investigation against Sagathiya under money laundering and hand it over to the General Board. Action will be taken against Sagathiya after the approval of the General Board.

27 persons including children were killed in a massive fire which engulfed the popular gaming zone being run from TRP mall in Rajkot on May 25 last year.

Earlier, the government had ordered to attach property worth Rs.23.15 crore in the name of Mansukh Sagathiya and his family. During the ACB investigation, Sagathiya was arrested under the Corruption Act after it was revealed that he had disproportionately accumulated property worth 628.42 percent more than his legal income. For which he is currently lodged in Rajkot Central Jail. 

It is worth mentioning that in the Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire incident, he showed negligence towards his duty by not taking any action after giving a notice to demolish the illegal construction, for which after the police arrested him, allegations of corruption were raised against him, and the ACB launched an investigation and in the meantime, legal action was taken after disproportionate property was found from Mansukh Sagathiya.

The ACB investigation revealed that Mansukh Dhanabhai Sagathiya, former Town Planning Officer of Rajkot Municipal Corporation, misused his position as a public servant and illegally obtained a huge amount of money than his official income and invested in immovable/movable properties in the name of his dependents. During the ACB investigation, it was revealed that Sagathiya had invested a total of Rs 28,17,93,981 in immovable/movable properties in the name of himself and his family members against his legal total income of Rs 3,86,85,647. It was revealed that Sagathia had invested/expended a total of Rs 24,31,08,334 in immovable/movable properties disproportionate to his income during his duty.

Rajkot ACB had proposed to the state government’s home department to attach properties worth Rs 23,15,48,256 that Sagathia had built in his and his family’s names. The proposal has been approved by the state government’s home department, and now action will be taken to immediately attach the accused’s properties.

In the fire incident that took place in Rajkot TRP Game Zone, Mansukh Sagathiya, who has been working as a Town Planning Officer in Rajkot Municipal Corporation for more than 10 years, was arrested from jail under a transfer warrant and cash, gold, silver and diamond jewelry, totaling more than Rs 18 crore, were recovered from his office located in Twin Tower on 150 feet Ring Road.

ACB seizes items worth over Rs 18 crore from private office

Gold jewellery and biscuits weighing about 22 kg, estimated value Rs 15 crore

Silver jewellery weighing about 2.5 kg, estimated value Rs 2 lakh

Diamond jewellery, estimated value Rs 8.50 lakh

Cash currency notes worth Rs 3,05,33,500

Currency notes of various countries, Indian value Rs 1,82,000

Gold strap watch No. 2 and other valuable watch, estimated value Rs 1.03 lakh.