Ill-gotten assets worth Rs 2 cr seized from MP sub-engineer

The district administration has so far seized properties worth Rs 2 crore belonging to a sub-engineer of the Regional Engineering Services (RES) department on the orders of a special court.
The process of confiscation of properties--both movable and immovable--belonging to Arvind Tiwari began yesterday and is going on today as well, official sources told PTI.
The Special Court Judge Avneendra Kumar Singh had on April 28 ordered confiscation of Tiwari's properties worth nearly Rs 89 lakh (actual registered value), which are disproportionate to his sources of income, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Tiwari, posted at Kannod in Dewas district, then challenged the special court's order before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. However, the High Court dismissed his plea, paving the way for confiscation of his properties.

According to highly-placed sources, the current market value of Tiwari's assets is nearly Rs 2 crore.
This is the first case of its kind in the state in which properties amassed through unfair means are being seized on the court's order, they said.

The assets would be utilised 'in the public interest'.
The properties confiscated so far include a 6,000 sq ft plot with a two-story house, a shop, 2.11 acre agricultural land in Tikamgarh, Rs 4.16 lakh cash and jewellery worth Rs 7.51 lakh.
The court had ordered Tiwari to hand over these properties to District Collectors of Indore and Tikamgarh.

Lokayukta Police had conducted a raid at Tiwari's premises on November 19, 2009.