Land deals: Former Padra mamlatdar arrested, sent to 4-day police remand

Former mamlatdar of Padra taluka Anshu Srivastav was sent to four-day police remand by a local court here Friday in connection with alleged dubious land deals even as police invoked sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

Srivastav, who was posted as extra chitnis in the office of Vadodara district collector till Wednesday, was arrested by Vadodara rural police late on Thursday after being questioned for several hours.

She was produced before the Vadodara district and sessions court on Friday evening. Principal District and Sessions Judge K K Bhatt sent her to police remand till February 12.

"Srivastav granted NA (non-agricultural) permission for a plot of agricultural land in 2008 on the basis of an order of SDM (sub-divisional magistrate). However, the SDM's order does not have number of outward register of the office of the SDM or inward number of Padra mamlatdar office. This means the order was forged and that she had some personal interests in granting NA permission. So, we have invoked provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988," Vadodara rural DSP Usha Rada said.

Police said the land of Jaspur village of Padra for which Srivastav granted NA permission had come within the limits of Vadodara Urban Development Authority (VUDA). So she was not authorised to grant permission as those powers are vested with the district collector.

The police have also invoked Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Padra police have already booked her under IPC Section 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment).

"She has admitted that she was in touch with city-based builder Sanjiv Bharambe (who is facing forgery charges) even after an FIR was lodged against him and police were looking for him," Rada said.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Astronomy buffs geared up for meteor shower

Narendra Modi dials Lalu, enquires about health after car accident

From Ramdev stage in Haridwar, Modi swears by gurus of all hues

PIL puts Tata Motors, state govt in the dock over Nano deal