Civil supply dept officer gets two years in jail for graft

Surat: Prakash Desai, former zonal officer of Varachha zone of civil supply department in Surat district collectorate, was convicted of graft charges by a local court and sentenced to two years imprisonment on Thursday. Middleman Mathuralal Khatik was also convicted and sentenced to two years in jail for accepting the bribe money on behalf of the convicted officer.
Officers of anti-corruption bureau laid a trap on March 14, 2005, following a complaint by a fair price shop owner. Desai had demanded Rs4,400 from the complainant for not declaring more ration cardholders who had connection of cooking gas as his customers, police investigation revealed.

If more ration cardholders having cooking gas connection were declared as his customers, then they would not be eligible for kerosene. Consequently, kerosene supply to the fair price shop will get reduced and could have impacted his earnings.

The complainant went to pay the money on March 14, 2005 and the accused accepted it through Khatik. Investigation revealed that Khatik had accepted the money on the Desai’s instructions.