The CBI on Wednesday registered a case of corruption against unknown officials of Special Frontier Force (SFF) — a specialised covert unit of Research and Analysis Wing — and a private firm for alleged irregularities in supply high altitude tents to the premier external Intelligence agency.
The agency has booked three directors of Delhi-based private firm Sai Baba Builders and Consultants for repeatedly showing favours in the supply of pre-fabricated shelters to SFF for high altitude locations causing undue gain (2009-13) to the suppliers to the extent of about Rs22 crore, CBI sources said.
After registering the case, the CBI also conducted searches at three places (two in Delhi/NCR and one in Kolkata) against the three directors of the accused firm. The three accused directors of Sai Baba Builders and Consultants include Shyam Sunder Bhatter, JPN Singh and Manjari, wife of contractor SP Singh.
The agency has slapped IPC sections related to cheating, forgery among others and under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act
“It has been alleged that wrongful favour was shown by the officials of the SFF and Cabinet Secretariat in the matter of the preparation of tender, procurement, supply and installation of the pre-fabricated shelters for SFF troops during the period 2009-13 which were purchased from the company,” a CBI spokesperson said.
The CBI action comes soon after the agency received a reference from the Prime Minister’s Office which sought a probe in the matter.
RAW had carried out an internal probe in the matter in which prima facie irregularities were found in the procurement of the high altitude tents. The RAW sent its internal probe report to the PMO which in turn referred it to CBI for further probe.
SFF was set up after the 1962 Indo-China war to carry out specialised operations for RAW.