Nagpur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is all set to launch a probe into huge wealth amassed by Archana Manish Puttewar (53), Assistant Director of Urban Planning Department, who allegedly conspired to murder her father-in-law through ‘contract killers’ recently over Rs 300 crore property dispute, a media report said.
A complaint has been lodged against Archana, which has been forwarded to the Director General (DG) of ACB office in Mumbai. The inquiry into Puttewar’s assets will commence upon approval from the DG ACB office. Many beneficiaries in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Nagpur are likely to be quizzed during the investigation, the officials claimed. The complaint alleged her hand in several malpractices, and amassing unaccounted wealth.
Yogita Parlewar, with the assistance of her slain father Purushottam Puttewar (82), filed a lawsuit to claim a share in the property located in Untkhana area of Nagpur. Her move had caused distress to Archana and her brother, Prashant Parlewar, who serves as Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). As a result, the siblings conspired to eliminate Purushottam Puttewar.
In this conspiracy, Archana’s personal aide, Payal Nageshwar, along with her confidant, Sarthak Sahebrao Bagde (29), a resident of Chaitnyashwar Nagar, Wathoda; Neeraj Ishwar Nimje (30), a resident of Shaktimata Nagar, Kharbi Road; Sachin Mohan Dharma (29), a resident of Bagadganj, and one Sanket, were involved. On the morning of May 22, Purushottam was killed in a car accident.
Archana, Prashant, and all seven accused were later arrested and are currently lodged in the jail. During the investigation, it emerged that Archana had amassed huge wealth, and the involvement of two persons from Gadchiroli also came to light. A complaint was lodged with the Gadchiroli ACB regarding irregularities in Archana’s assets with support of two local contractors. ACB has received this complaint and forwarded it to the headquarters.
The complainant, based in Gadchiroli, has alleged that Puttewar had engaged in gross violations to change land use in her capacity as senior official of the town planning department across the district, which paved the way for financial gains to the builder and developers’ lobby.
Puttewar, who allegedly enjoys political patronage, also violated norms to change the zonal demarcation and categories of lands to allow civil construction on forest and agricultural land, said the complainant. The complainant also highlighted the manner in which Puttewar backed the builders’ lobby at the cost of tribal land and forests.
