ACB claims CCTV footage shows PWD engineer’s aide taking bribe

The bureau is now checking papers of benami properties.

Wagh was trapped and arrested while allegedly accepting Rs 22,000 from a contractor who had sought clearance from Chikhlikar.

Chikhlikar had allegedly demanded 6 per cent commission for clearing a Rs 3.6-lakh bill for a road project.

He asked the contractor to hand over the money to Wagh. But the contractor approached ACB.

“Chikhlikar asked the complainant to give Wagh the money in the presence of our witnesses. We have CCTV footage from the PWD office in which Wagh is clearly seen accepting the money and placing it in the drawer of his desk,” said superintendent of police Shashikant Mahavarkar,Nashik ACB.

ACB director general of police (DGP) Raj Khilnani said Chikhlikar claimed he paid a sum to his superiors but both the DGP and Mahavarkar denied reports that a written record of payments made to bureaucrats was found in the house of the PWD executive engineer.

“Chikhlikar has taken some names but they are of PWD officials,not bureaucrats. We are verifying his claims,” Khilnani said.

Chikhlikar’s assets include around Rs 8 crore,gold bars and jewellery and properties in several cities.

“Some of the properties are not in Chikhlikar’s name,so they haven’t been counted as his assets. We have contacted the income-tax department to check if they have any files on him,” said Khilnani.

Monday,ACB found that Wagh has another locker in a bank in Nashik and opened it. However,it was found to contain only Rs 46,000.

Chikhlikar and Wagh have been remanded in police custody till May 10.

Somaiya alleges Bhujbal role

n Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged Monday a diary recovered from Chikhlikar had names of 58 top officials and politicians, including the family of PWD Chhagan Bhujbal.

n “The Nashik incident has shown involvement of higher-ups in PWD contracts,” he said.

n Somaiya took up the issue with home minster R R Patil and accused the ACB DGP of not probing the Chikhlikar case seriously.

n The Bhujbal family,meanwhile,denied allegations of connect with Chikhlikar. “I do not condone such behaviour. He has been suspended by government and we will ensure guilty are brought to book,” Bhujbal said.