State ombudsman sought suggestion from managing director of Samaj Kalyan Nirman Nigam (SKNN), Pranjal Yadav, about what action can be taken against a retired superintending engineer of the Department, who was reportedly held guilty of irregularities in allotting tender.
Interestingly, lokayukta Justice (retd), NK Mehrotra, also registered a case in this connection against former MD of the Department, VP Singh, after finding the charges of corruption and indulging in unethical practice against the officer primarily true and had served him a show-cause notice before recommending action in the matter. However, Singh reportedly not turned up before Mehrotra, and is reportedly trying to get the issue resolved.
Sources said that Mehrotra found that action can be taken against Singh through recovery even after the officer had already retired so he was waiting for the accused to turned up for his statement but what worried the state ombudsman, is initiating action against SE, Ram Swaroop, who already retired and is getting no pension. Swaroop’s had already with draw all other retirement benefits. Sources said that in wake of the above, Mehrotra now sought suggestion from present MD, Pranjal Yadav, that what action can be imposed on Swaroop to punish him for his act. It may be mentioned here that even when the MD was already retired, but he could face recovery notice of the unnecessary expenditure which have been caused due to irregularities made by him and the State Ombudsman could also recommend cut in his pension as a punishment but such action in not possible against the SE who get no pension.
Sources said that besides the above, Mehrotra, who already issued show-cause notice issued to the accused VP Singh and had sought explanation regarding the allegations made by the complainant, which were also found to be true during probe, had now warned the former MD to submit his clarification otherwise he will proceed further by recommending action. It may be mentioned that Mehrotra had summoned detail report regarding the allegation made on VP Singh, from the present MD of the Corporation, Pranjal Yadav. However, as Yadav was away so he deputed Chief General Manager, AK Sant, to furnish the same on his behalf. Sources further confirmed that Sant submitted his report to Mehrotra in which he confirmed of several irregularities and arbitrary decision taken by VP Singh. The report mentioned that even when the finance/administration had not issued any order regarding construction work of Central School to be carried out by the said corporation, and even when the committee of the corporation raised serious objection, VP Singh, took decision on his own to float tender.
Not only this, against all the rules of the corporation, Singh had appointed one of the bidder as RsStrategic Partner’ just after the tender exercise came under scrutiny. Singh also not considered the recommendation made by the law department and when the earnest money for the project has been fixed as Rs 35 lakh, Singh again reduced this amount to Rs 12.50 lakh just to facilitate a contractor close to him.
It was earlier alleged that VP Singh, who retired from MD post in August last year had allegedly Rsfabour’ to allot tenders. Sources confirmed that Central School head-quarter in New Delhi had approved a proposal of erecting buildings of two more Central Schools in Hardoi and Jalhaur respectively. They made the SKNN as the working agency and issued letter to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and then dispatched it to Delhi so that final call could be made in the matter along with fixing of the budget. Sources disclosed that as VP Singh was going to retire soon so in a hurry, he along with some other officials invited tender for the above work and allegedly engaged a private builder to carry out the work. To facilitate the builder, the said officer alleged to have made his company as RsStrategic Partner’ of the project and also fixed the budget to Rs 25 crore for each building before floating the tenders. However, the move of the officials of SKNN reportedly exposed when the Central School head quarter, refused the proposal and asked SKNN that the total budget as per their plan is just Rs 15 crore per building so they must send the DPR accordingly.
However, after learning of the above decision and cut in the budget for construction, the said private builder reportedly asked the officials of SKNN that he could not do the project in Rs 15 crore so his proposal should be returned. He also reportedly asked to return the Rsconsideration’ he paid to get the tender. Finding themselves in trouble, the SKNN officials tried to convince the builder that they will get the budget increase. They also claimed to have already requested the Central School head-quarter to increase the budget to Rs 20 crore citing that they already floated tenders on Rs 15 crore but no one had made the bid.
Besides, a Kanpur dehat based Pramod Kumar, owning Vinayak Builders and Supplies also alleged that even before finalization of a project of constructing bus station in Kanpur dehat valuing Rs 350 crore, then MD of the SKNN, VP Singh and superintending engineer, Ram Swarup, had awarded him contract without floating tender. Pramod Kumar, claimed that he later found that he was cheated and that the work has been allotted to someone else after floating proper tender.