Retired SMC engineer booked for disproportionate assets

Surat: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has booked a retired Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) engineer for allegedly amassing assets worth Rs 68.98 lakh — 70% above beyond his known sources of income — after a probe into his decade-long tenure.

The ACB’s Surat unit registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case against Rasik Patel, who served as an assistant engineer with SMC from Jan 2011 to March 2020.

Investigators said Patel adopted various unlawful practices during his tenure to accumulate wealth, which amounted to criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

ACB police inspector K J Dhaduk lodged a complaint, and the investigation has been handed over to police inspector S D Dhobi.

“We got a complaint against Patel in 2020, that he had accumulated properties by unlawful practices during his tenure. We investigated and found that he has built two house, in Adajan (Surat) and his native Dharampur. Apart from this, Rs 40 lakh was found in his bank accounts. He had a high-end car worth Rs 19 lakh and three two-wheelers. He had also invested money in many insurance policies. From at his income and expenses over the 10-year check period, he was found to have assets 70.13% higher (Rs 68.98 lakh) than his known income,” said R R Chaudhary, assistant director of ACB.

Patel retired from the SMC on Aug 31, 2025. The ACB is now continuing its probe to examine the full extent of his assets and financial transactions.