Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued a provisional attachment order (PAO) for immovable properties worth Rs 2 crore “acquired through direct utilisation of illegal funds generated” by a porter with the Western Railway. The attachment was carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.According to a press release issued by ED on Thursday, the case involves Prashant Rabari, a porter/box boy with the Western Railway, “who adopted corrupt practices and thereby acquired multiple movable and immovable properties and assets disproportionate to his known sources of income”.“ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Gujarat Police under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, disclosing scheduled offences under the PMLA,” the release states.The agency’s investigation revealed that Rabari, during his employment as a porter/box boy with the Western Railway, allegedly amassed assets worth approximately Rs 2.5 crore through movable and immovable properties through corrupt and illegal activities during the check period from Jan 1, 2017, and Feb 2, 2021. These were held in the name of Rabari and his wife Amul, according to the release.Earlier, in 2021, CBI Gandhinagar had registered an FIR against Rabari, a porter/box boy with Western Railway, Sabarmati. The FIR alleged that Rabari possessed assets valued at 107.8% of his declared income. According to the FIR, the assets included luxury cars, high-end motorcycles, a plot with construction, flats, gold jewellery, and properties allegedly held in the name of his wife, Amul. Sources said box boys, also known as porters, work as support staff in the railways. They help load and unload goods and heavy boxes belonging to loco pilots and guards.
