Police arrest two for ‘stealing’ well in Ambernath

The police have finally solved the case of a missing well in Shil Village, Vanghani, Ambernath.

The police have finally solved the case of a missing well in Shil Village, Vanghani, Ambernath.

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The construction of this well had been sanctioned, and money had been allotted for the same. A report, saying that the construction was complete had even been furnished, but there was no well at the spot.

Deputy superintendent of police, Pradeep Bhanushali from the anti-corruption bureau, Thane, said that in 2007-08, under the Jawahar Vihir Yojana – a central government scheme – a grant had been sanctioned to Barkubai Parsu Rone, 67, for the construction of the well. Her son was the sarpanch of Shil and used his clout to have the well sanctioned.

However, the Rs70,000 sanctioned for the construction was allegedly pocketed by eight accused: Barkubai, her son Subhash Parsu Rone, Ramakant Bandopant Tijore , Siddharth Sakharam Gaikwad, Sanjay Shivgonda Khot, Chetan Jagdish Kadav, a Gramsevak, Vithabai Sitaram Kadav, sarpanch, Group Grampanchyat , Karaav village and Madam, Rambhau Kadav, deputy Sarpanch, Group Grampanchyat, Karaav village, Ambernath.

The ACB on Friday arrested Subhash and Tijore and plan to put the others behind soon, the DSP said. The theft surfaced when one Anil Vaghu Banote, a resident of Shil, approached the grampanchayat and informed them that there was no well at the allotted spot, despite government records saying that it had been dug up. He then said that clearly, the well had either never been constructed, or had been stolen. The complaint was neglected, after which Banote approached the Thane ACB.