Sending out a strong message against corruption, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his assent for lodging a case under the anti-corruption law against an assistant engineer and junior engineer of the public works department (PWD) in an alleged scam related to a road construction project in 2014-15.
The approval was given despite the fact that the administrative department, PWD, had not recommended an inquiry against the duo.
Giving details here on Tuesday, Raj Niwas officials said in the case of the accused Executive Engineer in the same matter, decision will be taken by the NCCSA, since he is a Group ‘A’ Officer.
In giving his approval, the LG has gone by the findings of the Anti-Corruption Branch, GNCTD and recommendation of the Directorate of Vigilance. Saxena also ordered action to be taken against the concerned officers of the PWD who tried to shield the accused Engineers, despite prima facie case being made out by the Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB)against them.
Saxena accorded approval u/s 17A of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 for registration of case against JS Chauhan, Assistant Engineer and Devi Singh, Junior Engineer, on the allegation that they released payment to a contractor without proper verification of work done in a road construction project in south Delhi.
The LG noted that on perusal of the facts and records of the case he is of the considered view that it is in the interest of justice to investigate the allegations after registering a case.
The allegations are based on the complaint dated 19.05.2017, filed by Rahul Sharma,founder of an NGO-”Roads Anti-Corruption Organization”, that payments were made even as no work was done at the site of “strengthening of road and improvement of footpath, drainage system, central verge of EPDP Road (Malik Ram IssarMarg, New Delhi)” Kalkaji area, thereby causing loss to Government exchequer.
The ACB, the Delhi Government after conducting preliminary enquiry has registered a complaint relating to the aforesaid work against three PWD Engineers, viz Executive Engineer, RS Garg, Assistant Engineer, JS Chauhan and Junior Engineer, Devi Singh.
The contract for the work of ` 6,33,69,235/-, 18.79 per cent below the estimated cost of ` 7,80,31,320 was awarded to M/s. M.C. Construction Co.
As per PWD’s material inward/MAS register, the material was procured/ received from various firms and the contractor submitted invoices of the major material i.e bitumen, but invoices of other material used in construction were not submitted by him.
The 18 invoices provided by PWD on account of purchase of bitumen were verified and were found to be fake. Subsequently, the Trade and Taxes Department also imposed penalty upon the firm for filing misleading return of purchases made by the contractor firm.
