Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has exposed another scam regarding fraud in labour cartage and transport tenders for wheat in grain markets by the contractors in conniving with concerned officers or employees of the Food and Civil Supplies Department in Ferozepur.
The vigilance, in this regard, has registered a case against three contractors or tenderers — Davinder Singh of Faridkot, Daviderpal and Gurushakti – both from Talwandi Bhai — at the VB Police Station Ferozepur, for committing fraud and embezzlement causing huge loss to the State exchequer. In this case, the VB has already arrested the contractor Davinder Singh.
“The Bureau, after investigating this fraud in the grain markets of Ferozepur and Mamdot, has registered a case under FIR dated October 27, 2022, against the accused contractors under section 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 13 (1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station VB, Ferozepur,” said the VB spokesperson.
Giving more details, VB spokesperson said that during the tenders for labour cartage and transport in the above grain markets for wheat or stock articles in the current year 2022-2023, these contractors attached lists at the time of filling the tenders regarding the registration numbers of vehicles for transportation of goods which were verified by the VB from respective district transport authorities.
It has come to light that in these lists, several registration numbers of invalid vehicles like Motor Cycles, Jeeps, Tractors etc, were attached whereas the food grains could not be transported on such vehicles, added the spokesperson.
During the probe, it has been established that along with the registration numbers of fake vehicles mentioned in the gate passes by the accused contractors, the details of the quantity of food grains are prima facie a case of fake reporting and embezzlement shown in these gate passes.
The Department’s concerned officials or employees had also paid to the said contractors for the work done without verifying these fake gate passes.
Spokesperson further revealed that as per the facts available, the district tender allotment committee should have rejected the technical bid of the concerned contractors as per rules, which was not done. But the concerned officials or employees, in connivance with each other, have committed this fraud in the labour cartage and transport tenders for the transportation of food grains in these grain markets and on the basis of which this case has been registered against the above mentioned accused.
The role of other government officers or employees of the department would be probed during the investigation of the case as alleged in the complaint in this regard.