The prosecution case arose from an investigation initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which registered the case on September 30, 2013. The CBI alleged that the accused, while functioning as a public servant, had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

According to the CBI, the initial check period covered September 1, 2008 to March 31, 2013. During this period, the accused was found to have accumulated assets worth ₹19,86,661, which amounted to about 130 per cent in excess of his known lawful income. During the course of investigation, the check period was subsequently expanded and revised to cover a longer duration, from April 1, 2004 to March 20, 2013.

Upon completion of the investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on September 3, 2014. In the charge sheet, it was alleged that during the revised check period, the accused had amassed assets worth ₹57,60,729.15, which were assessed to be 183.57 per cent in excess of his known sources of income. The prosecution further alleged that the wife of the accused had knowingly assisted in the accumulation and holding of the disproportionate assets, thereby abetting the commission of the offence. The matter proceeded to trial before the CBI Court at Ahmedabad. During the trial, the prosecution led evidence to establish the income, expenditure and assets of the accused during the relevant check period, while the defence contested the allegations and sought to justify the assets in question.

After considering the oral and documentary evidence on record and the submissions advanced by both sides, the court held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court found that the accused had failed to satisfactorily account for the disproportionate assets held by him during the check period. It also held that the role of his wife in assisting and abetting the accumulation of such assets stood established.

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Consequently, the court convicted Kaushik Anvantrai Karelia and sentenced him to five years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹63 lakh in the disproportionate assets case. His wife, Pooja Karelia, was convicted for abetment of the offence and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with a fine of ₹50,000. The court ordered the sentences in accordance with law, bringing the long-pending prosecution to a close.