ACB needs help to check SRA scam

Following a Bombay High Court order passed on Thursday, which states that all 247 cases relating to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) must be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the ACB has sent a proposal to the Director General of Police (Maharashtra) requesting necessary assistance to investigate cases.

As a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is to be formed to exclusively investigate the SRA cases, the ACB has asked for extra manpower, infrastructure and logistics. A team consisting of  a deputy commissioner or superintendent, five assistant commissioner, 15 police inspectors, 40 policemen, legal advisers, public prosecutors, one head clerk and two clerks for ministerial work is required.

“As we will not be able to investigate the cases with our current manpower and infrastructure, we have asked for additional assistance,” said ACP Pradnya Sarvade.

The bureau wants assistance from other government departments and has asked for two tahsildars from the Revenue Department, two city surveyors and two BMC senior colony officers.

He added that the infrastructure and manpower would be crucial to ensure a quick investigation.