VB registers FIR in bitumen supply scam
The state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau today registered a case in the bitumen supply scam of 2007-08, which is expected to run into several crores. The FIR in the scam has been registered against officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) and Chandigarh-based transporter company M.K. Enterprises, who have come under the scanner for their involvement in the scam.
Though the scam pertains to the entire state, the first case has been registered for Una district, where a supply order of about 900 bitumen drums worth Rs 35 lakh went missing on the way to their destination.
DIG (Vigilance) Ashok Sharma confirmed that the case has been registered for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. “No PWD official has been named in the FIR so far as further investigations would pinpoint the ones involved in the scam at various levels,” he said. He added that the inquiries in the scam for other districts were also in process and soon a chain of separate FIRs would follow.
Him Agro Industries Corporation, which was the nodal agency for procuring supplies, had also made an aborted attempt to register an FIR against the transporter company here at Shimla East Police Station. Sharma said since the scam was already under investigation with the Vigilance, there was no need for a separate case, so it was turned down.
Sources say that later stages of investigation would involve questioning of several officials from the level of junior engineers to engineer-in-chief.
The scam pertains to supply of thousands of litres of bitumen from Panipat refineries that was inordinately delayed and in some cases went missing, whereas payment for the stock was released by the PWD before receiving the supply.
As per the tender, all supplies were to be transported within five days after which a fine of Rs 10 per day was to be imposed on transporters, but Him Agro Industries, did not take any action for the delay, though in many cases the delay was of over six months. The role of Him Agro would also be investigated.
Source: Indian Express
Though the scam pertains to the entire state, the first case has been registered for Una district, where a supply order of about 900 bitumen drums worth Rs 35 lakh went missing on the way to their destination.
DIG (Vigilance) Ashok Sharma confirmed that the case has been registered for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. “No PWD official has been named in the FIR so far as further investigations would pinpoint the ones involved in the scam at various levels,” he said. He added that the inquiries in the scam for other districts were also in process and soon a chain of separate FIRs would follow.
Him Agro Industries Corporation, which was the nodal agency for procuring supplies, had also made an aborted attempt to register an FIR against the transporter company here at Shimla East Police Station. Sharma said since the scam was already under investigation with the Vigilance, there was no need for a separate case, so it was turned down.
Sources say that later stages of investigation would involve questioning of several officials from the level of junior engineers to engineer-in-chief.
The scam pertains to supply of thousands of litres of bitumen from Panipat refineries that was inordinately delayed and in some cases went missing, whereas payment for the stock was released by the PWD before receiving the supply.
As per the tender, all supplies were to be transported within five days after which a fine of Rs 10 per day was to be imposed on transporters, but Him Agro Industries, did not take any action for the delay, though in many cases the delay was of over six months. The role of Him Agro would also be investigated.
Source: Indian Express
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