Complainant against Phad gets threatening calls

MUMBAI, FEB 26: Three days after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a senior government officer V S Phad, on deputation to MHADA, red-handed accepting a bribe, he has still not been arrested. While inordinate delay in Phad’s arrest has raised eyebrows among MHADA officials, the complainant on whose tip-off the trap was laid has received threatening calls.

Phad had allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh as bribe from Sunil Barochi, a purser with Air-India and secretary of Shantivan cooperative housing society, said police sources. On the basis of Barochi’s complaint the ACB caught Phad red-handed. But Barochi in a complaint now to Oshiwara police has said he is receiving threatening calls at his residence.

Meanwhile, police sources said they found Rs 50,000 in cash when they searched Phad’s office. Investigations have also revealed Phad and his family have properties worth many lakhs and several bank accounts in different names. Phad’s wife has a bank account worth Rs 9 lakh. Phad also has four residentialpremises in the city and an unlicensed pistol, police said.

Before coming on deputation to MHADA as assistant registrar of cooperative societies, Phad was personal secretary to Minister of State for Cooperation. However, ACB officials are maintaining top secrecy in this case and did not even reveal any information to senior vigilance officials of MHADA.