Four involved in Rs 1.08 cr embezzlement go missing

Palanpur, Aug 1 (UNI) Four persons, including former president of Palanpur civic body, who were allegedly involved in a misappropriation case of Rs 1.08 crore, have been absconding for the past seven days.

According to District Police Chief Vipul Aggarwal, the ex-president, Reha Khanesha, Vipul Kumar Champalal Soni, Mtaben Champalal Soni and Alkesh Kumar Manchand Chauhan are absconding.

He said Ms Khanesha, a former BJP MLA, was called by the police four times. It is believed that she and others have gone underground in order to avoid their arrest.

''Police is on a lookout for them,'' he said, adding, during investigation, it came to light that all orders given by them, including the one for laying of water supply pipes, turned out to be bogus.

Two ex-chairpersons of Water Supply board Hemlata Nagindas and Urban Community Development Board chairperson Babuben Ghemarji Thakore, whose name figured in the first information report (FIR) are also absconding, Mr Aggarwal said.

He said despite frequent visits by the police all of them were found missing from their houses. All the police stations in the district have been alerted to trace them and bring them to SP office in Palanpur for further interrogation.

Earlier, five officials, including former president Ashok Thakore, were taken into custody. They are presently lodged in jail after the expiry of police remand, he added.

UNI