The CBI has arrested a Kochi-based chief engineer of the Military Engineering Services (MES) and five others and recovered an alleged bribe of Rs 1.21 crore. According to CBI, searches were conducted in 20 locations, including the home of Rakesh Kumar Garg, who is posted as chief engineer (naval works) MES in Kochi. The raids, which began on Sunday , covered several cities, including Delhi, Kochi, Ajmer, Rohtak, Hisar and Kolkata.
During the searches, an additional recovery of Rs 3.97 crore and six kilograms of gold biscuits was made by the agency, the sources said. According to CBI, incriminating documents recovered during searches are being scrutinised for further investigation.
The searches were made after the agency received inputs that Garg was "collecting and demanding illegal gratification of 1 per cent of contract amount from the contractors for issuing various civil contracts in the Kochi naval base", officials said.
It was alleged that the Garg was demanding and collecting illegal gratification from the contractors for issuing various civil contracts in Naval Base Kochi. It was also alleged that the accused was receiving bribe amount through his conduit and others through hawala route/direct payment by private contractors and their associates. lt is learnt that the bribe money is usually handed over to Kanav Khanna through hawala route and through direct payment by private contractors.
CBI alleged that the accused persons have entered into criminal conspiracy with each other in Delhi and Kochi while commission of offences. "Sanjeev Kumar Agarwal who is the brother of Rakesh Kumar Garg, retired Executive Engineer from Haryana State Public Works Department. He was staying at No. 106, Sector-4, HUDA, Near Skytech Mall, Rohtak. The corrupt money was initially parked in the residence of Kanav Khanna and later it is transferred to the residence of his brother Sanjeev Kumar Agarwal. The amount is normally carried by Kanav Khanna himself or his associates," the FIR said.
The office of Chief Engineer (Naval Works) Kochi had called for quotation for constructing provision of deficient married accommodation for sailors at Mundamveli, Kochi in the month of April 2018. last week the tender was opened and it was decided to award the contract for an amount of Rs. 177.33 crores to two contractors on sharing basis-Pushkarraj Constructions Pvt. ltd., and Jain Builders based in Ajmer . Pushkar Bhasin, who was one of the Directors of M/s Pushkarraj Constructions Pvt. ltd., is looking after the affairs of the company at Naval Base Kochi whereas Praful Jain is looking after the affairs of Jain Builders at Kochi. It was alleged that Garg demanded an amount of Rs. 83 lakhs from Bhasin and Rs. 89 lakhs from Jain, which they agreed to pay. They were asked to hand over the bribe amount to Kanav Khanna in Delhi.
The MES functions under the control of the Engineer in-Chief of Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of all infrastructure assets of armed forces. Garg was working as Chief Engineer (Naval Works) in Kochi since January 2017. He was the head of office in Kochi.
The agency has booked Rakesh Kumar Garg, Chief Engineer (Naval Works), Military Engineer Services (MES), Kathari Bagh Naval Base, Pushkar Bhasin, Director of M/s Pushkarraj Constructions Pvt. ltd, Praful Jain, M/s Jain Builders, based in Ajmer, Kanav Khanna and Sanjeev Khanna (private persons), Subodh Jain from Ajmer, Chanchal Jain from Delhi and others under section 120 B of Indian Penal Code and sections 7, 8, 10 & 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act on the allegations of demanding and collecting illegal gratification etc from the contractors.