The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) sleuths seized `1.19 crore cash, home appliances and several documents pertaining to properties worth around `2 crore after carrying out a thorough search at Maharashtra Wakf Board CEO, Noor Mohammed Dost Mohammed Pathan’s residence in Nanded on Sunday.
Investigators have seized a suitcase full of cash, which was hidden in the bedroom by the accused. During the preliminary probe, ACB officials learnt that the accused had bought property worth crores of rupees in his wife’s name. ACB sleuths are now trying to get the details of Pathan’s previous postings and will check whether he bought properties in other districts too while serving there.
Pathan (49) was arrested from his house in Sahyog Nagar, Nanded on Saturday night while accepting `30,000, part of bribe money `1.50 lakh, from a farmer in favour of granting him extended possession of a piece of land for three years.
A team of eight policemen from Nanded ACB, led by deputy superintendent of police Mohammed Pathan, conducted the operation and after nabbing the CEO red-handed, carried out searches at his house which went on till Sunday evening.
“During the search of Pathan’s residence, we found cash `1.19 crore which was kept in a suitcase and was hidden in the bedroom. Many household items, LCD, LED, other house appliances and documents pertaining to various movable and immovable properties worth `1.9 crore were also seized,” said Mr Mohammed Pathan. He added that Pathan had bought most of the properties, plots on his wife Shehnaz’s name. He has two sons and some properties are in their names, too. “Since it was Sunday we could not check Pathan and his family members’ bank account and locker details, but we will do it on Monday,” he added.
ACB sleuths are also going through Pathan’s previous posting details. “We are gathering details about his previous postings in various other districts and will subsequently check whether he bought properties while serving in those districts,” a senior ACB official said.