The CBI has booked former CMD of Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd., a public sector undertaking under the Steel Ministry, Moyukh Bhaduri and others in a case of graft and criminal misconduct relating to fraudulent award of contract for construction of Trade Facilitation Center & Crafts Museum (TFC & CM) at Varanasi.

Besides Bhaduri, the CBI has named Hirnadri Sarraddar, GM Engineering and D C Bandopadhyay, Advisor Marketing and Contract of Hindustan Steelworks.

Six private persons associated with private companies have also been named as accused in the case.

The Regular Case in the matter follows a Preliminary Enquiry.

Anant Saxena, MD, Zillion Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd., N Krishna Rao, Director (Projects), Vijay Nirman Co. Pvt. Ltd; V Ajay Kumar, MD, Vijay Nirman Co. Pvt, Ltd., GRK Reddy of NCC Ltd.; Vikas Jalan (Private Person), MD of Trans Metalite India Pvt. Ltd., Dhiraj Kanchal (Private Person) and unknown others are named as accused in the case.

The PE revealed that the Ministry of Textiles appointed Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH) as implementing Agency for the project of Trade Facilitation Center & Crafts Museum (TFC & CM). Enquiry has further revealed that in April 2015, EPCH initiated a proposal for engaging HSCL as Project Management Service Provider (PMSP) for the said project. However, in May, 2015, EPCH showed its incapability to continue further as implementing agency for the said project due to involvement of technical nature of work in the said project.

Subsequently, the implementing agency for the said project was changed from EPCH to National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd. (NHDC) in June, 2015.

“Enquiry has further revealed that Shri Moyukh Bhaduri, the then CMD, HSCL, conspired with Anant Saxena, MD, Zillion Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. and Vikas Jalan (Private Person), MD of M/s. Trans Metalite India Pvt. Ltd. and in furtherance of said criminal conspiracy, Shri Shri Vikas Jalan, Private Person, MD of Trans Metalite India Pvt. Ltd, during May-June 2015, demanded gratification of total Rs 2.25 crore from Anant Saxena for facilitating the selection of HSCL as PMSP in the said project, according to the complaint which is now part of the FIR. .

Consequent to these demands, Anant Saxena allegedly delivered Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh (in cash) to him on June 4, 2015 and June 24, 2015 respectively, it alleged.

Bhaduri allegedly conspired with other accused persons allegedly indulged in huge monetary transactions in connection with the said work.