Excise officer allegedly found to have assets worth crores

The Lokayukta Police today conducted searches at houses and other premises belonging to an excise officer, and unearthed alleged disproportionate assets worth crores of rupees.

"We have recovered around Rs 1.25 crore in cash alone during the raids conducted at the places owned by Parakram Singh Chandravat, an excise officer, in Indore city, in Jaora area and Khalukheda village (his native place) in Ratlam district, and at his office in Dhar," Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Dilip Soni said.

While a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered, Chandravat, who is the District Excise Officer at Dhar, was yet to be arrested, the SP said.

"We also recovered documents revealing that he owns six warehouses in Jaora, two petrol pumps in Indore and two high-end cars, among others things," the SP added.

These assets were worth crores of rupees, while Chandravat's total income from salary since he joined the excise department in 2001 would have been only Rs 70 lakh, he said.

The searches were carried out after the Lokayukta Police received information about his alleged ill-gotten wealth, Soni said, adding that further probe was on.