Gujarat ACB files DA case against suspended IAS officer Ketaki Vyas over ₹3.56 crore assets
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Gujarat has registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case against Ketaki Vyas, a suspended Gujarat Administrative Service (Class-I) officer who served as Resident Additional Collector in Anand district, following a preliminary inquiry spanning 11 years — from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2023. The alleged disproportionate assets are valued at ₹3,56,03,910, which the bureau says is 68.84 per cent above her known sources of income during the check period.
Key Developments in the Case
The ACB registered the offence at its police station in Ahmedabad under Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the amended Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018. Vyas is currently under suspension, and the case marks the culmination of a prolonged inquiry into her alleged financial dealings over more than a decade in public service.
The preliminary inquiry was conducted by Police Inspector A.K. Chauhan of ACB Field Unit-1, Ahmedabad, and supervised by Deputy Director (Administration) Bharti Pandya. The bureau alleges that Vyas misused her official position during the check period to accumulate assets beyond her lawful income.
Nature of Alleged Assets
According to the ACB, the excess assets amounting to ₹3,56,03,910 were reportedly invested in both movable and immovable properties — held in Vyas's own name as well as in the names of family members. The bureau has not publicly specified the individual properties at this stage, but the scope of the inquiry reportedly covered agricultural land, residential and commercial buildings, vehicles, bank accounts, and lockers.
This case was registered as part of the ACB's ongoing special anti-corruption drive under the Prevention of Corruption Act, aimed at identifying public servants who allegedly exploit their official positions to accumulate benami or disproportionate assets across various government departments.
What the ACB Said
The bureau confirmed it is continuing its wider drive to detect disproportionate and benami assets held by public servants, including properties registered in the names of associates. The ACB has also urged citizens to report instances of alleged corruption or illegal bribe demands through its toll-free helpline.
Notably, the case against Vyas comes amid a broader pattern of ACB action against senior bureaucrats in Gujarat, reflecting heightened institutional scrutiny of public servants' asset declarations over multi-year periods.
What Happens Next
With the formal case now registered, investigators are expected to move towards filing a charge sheet. Vyas, who remains under suspension, could face prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act if the bureau's findings are upheld in court. The outcome will be closely watched as a test of Gujarat's anti-corruption enforcement machinery against senior-grade administrative officers.