MUMBAI, June 7 -- A cashier at the state legislature was sentenced to seven years in jail on May 5 by a special court under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for misappropriating government funds and amassing a disproportionate amount of assets between 1991 and 2004. An FIR had been registered against the accused, Manoj Gaonkar, in 2005 at the Marine Drive police station. The anti-corruption bureau had taken over the case and revealed that he had acquired Rs.19.24 lakh, which was 109.62% more than his known sources of income. Gaonkar's advocate contradicted the charges and claimed that there was no significant amount in his account. However, the prosecution examined 12 witnesses, including investigating officers and bank officials, and key evidence included salary records, loan statements, demat account transactions, and property purchase documents. Additional sessions judge Shahikant E Bangar said that despite being given multiple opportunities, he was unable to explain the assets in his possession. The court said, "He committed forgery, cheating, and criminal breach of trust under the IPC," and added he was not to be shown any leniency. In 2018, Gaonkar was sentenced to five years in prison for siphoning off Rs.63,000 from a member of the legislative council's medical claim and misappropriating over Rs.52.3 lakh from the state government funds in 2005. He had misappropriated money from the travel allowance of member of the legislative assembly, Anil Gote, by forging challans and making wrong entries in the cash book....