Maharashtra Court Acquits Anil Parab, Four Others in Dapoli Resort Case

A court in Maharashtra's Khed has acquitted Shiv Sena member Anil Parab and four others in a corruption case related to a resort in Dapoli. The court found contradictions in the prosecution's case and an absence of evidence of bribery.

The case stemmed from a 2021 complaint by Kirit Somaiya, a former member of Parliament, about a resort built in a coastal regulation zone (CRZ-III) at Murud in Dapoli. The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) had charged Mr. Parab, sarpanch Suresh Tupe, gramsevak Anant Koli, circle officer Sudhir Pardule, and sub-divisional officer Jayram Deshpande with cheating, forgery, and misconduct.

The prosecution alleged that the group conspired to assess property taxes on a building that was not complete and cheated the state by evading stamp duty during the property sale. However, the court pointed to contradictions in the State's claims and recognized the concept of dual ownership under the Indian Easements Act.

The court acquitted all five accused of all charges, citing lack of evidence and contradictions in the prosecution's case. The court's judgment was delivered on May 5 by judge Prasanna S Chandgude.

The immediate next steps in the case are not clear, but the acquittal is expected to have implications for the accused and the state's anti-corruption efforts. The court will likely release a detailed judgment in the coming days, providing further insight into the case.