ED Charges Former Daman Panchayat Head in Disproportionate Assets Case
Enforcement Directorate alleges possession of Rs 3.77 crore in assets beyond known income; probe reveals corrupt transactions during tenure
New Delhi, Dec 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Ahmedabad office on Friday filed a chargesheet against Ketan Patel, former President of the District Panchayat in Daman and Diu, before a Special PMLA Court.
The charges pertain to possession of assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income. The case originates from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR, which alleged that Patel, a public servant, held assets worth approximately Rs 3.77 crore between October 2005 and October 2015. The CBI had earlier filed its own chargesheet in the matter.
According to the ED, Patel allegedly received illicit funds during his tenure as Panchayat President, which were deposited into bank accounts through cash deposits and ‘accommodation entries’—transactions labelled as loans that were never repaid. The agency claims the funds were used for personal expenses, including hotel stays and shopping.
Earlier, the ED had provisionally attached Patel’s properties valued at Rs 3.77 crore, including commercial units in Mumbai, a plot of land, and a fixed deposit, as part of its investigation into the alleged disproportionate assets.
