Banaskantha district panchayat chief convicted

Palanpur, Oct 10 (UNI) Banaskantha district Panchayat President Vijaybhai Harkhabhai Chakravarti was convicted by a Fast Track Court (FTC) today to a year's rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 5000 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

According to public prosecutor L T Jagani, Chakravarti had amassed properties worth Rs 43,48,405 between 1987 to 2003.

Chakravarti, a former clerk in Road Transport Office at Palanpur and Deesa, had immovable properties in Palanpur, Deesa, besides at his native Godh village in Deesa taluka.

According to Mr Jagani, the police had registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 in 2003.

The 5th FTC judge V D Charan also ordered confiscation of property worth Rs 24,86,257, which the court considered as disproportionate to his known source of income.

The court has also ordered 90 days extra punishment in case the accused failed to pay the Rs 5000 fine.

Chakravarti is the District Panchayat President since 2004, elected on a Congress ticket from reserved Vadagam seat in Banaskantha.

UNI