VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Mar 26: Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has sought the permission of Chief Minister Hemant Soren to lodge a regular FIR of the disproportionate assets against the senior state government official Gopal Ji Tiwari.
Two top government sources confirmed the ACB having sent the file to the chief minister secretariat for his permission. “The ACB completed the inquiry. Prima facie, allegations were found true and the permission has been sought,” said a top government official.
Gopal Ji Tiwari served as Officer on Special Duty of the chief minister for a couple of months. But he had to quit as the chief minister apparently came to know about his alleged corrupt practices. The ACB has concluded that there was enough material evidence against Gopal Ji Tiwari to start a criminal proceeding. Since he is a government official permission for the prosecution is required.
In July 2020, the ACB had lodged a preliminary inquiry against him for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets.
Notably, Hemant Soren after assuming the charge of the chief minister appointed Gopal Ji Tiwari as his OSD. He was holding the post of joint secretary in the road construction department as well. But in July 2020, he requested the CM to relieve him as OSD as he came to know that the CM has received complaints about his alleged disproportionate assets. The CM could hardly afford to keep an official in his administrative group facing charges of corruption. Hence he ordered the ACB to probe the matter.
On June 19, 2020, Jharkhand High Court Rajiv Kumar met Soren and submitted documentary evidence about the properties allegedly raised by Gopal Ji Tiwari. The lawyer claimed that Gopal Ji Tiwari misused his office and raised disproportionate assets worth around Rs 21.55 crore.
The official is accused of making huge investments in purchasing land and housing properties. Rajiv Kumar said that Gopal Ji Tiwari was instrumental in the formation of a company Kingsley developers where his son is a partner. The office of the said company was said to be situated at Ashok Nagar in Ranchi. Land measuring 136 decimal worth Rs 9.5 Crore was purchased in the name of the company at Morabadi.
The lawyer alleged that Gopal Ji Tiwari raised landed properties in the name of his relatives at Hochar and Van Vrindawan in Morabadi locality.
