CBI probe ordered into graft in NLCIL
Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered CBI to probe into the allegations of huge corruption in the PSU Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL). The Pioneer on December 4 and February 9 reported in detail about the violations in awarding contracts, forgery in Exim Bank guarantee, syphoning of CSR funds by top officials, delay in execution of projects and illegal allotment of more than INR1000 crore in delayed projects by revised cost estimates. Detailing the corruption charges, Justice M Nirmal Kumar has ordered CBI to start probe mmediately.
Congress MP MK Vishnu Prasad also approached CBI seeking immediate probe the huge corruption and violations in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation. Vishnu Prasad represents Cuddalore Lok Sabha Constituency, where the PSU Neyveli Lignite Corporation is headquartered.
The High Court’s 18 page order details the allegations of corruption involving top officials of the Navratna status PSU under Coal Ministry, having many subsidiaries across the country.
All the controversial decisions involving huge bribery are taken with the approval of Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Mottupalli and other Directors in charge of Power, Finance. The petition also pointed out the role of the vigilance department of NLCIL in hushing up many cases.
Major corruption charges were raised on the PSU’s power projects in Ghatampur in Uttar Pradesh and Talabira township construction project in Odisha, Talabira project was awarded at an escalated price of INR547 crore. Ghatampur project which is already delayed was given escalation of more than INR1000 crore, violating all tender norms. The contract awarded private company went into insolvency and the PSU even gave extra INR250 crore as salaries to the private company employees. The petition pointed out that ultimately, the huge corruption will affect the public exchequer and power tariff increase.
The petition said that in every project scrap tenders were awarded by violating norms, leading to huge corruption. Fake documents with Exim Bank for a joint venture in Malaysia and Singapore, sale of pond ash without tender at a cheap rate and kickback allegations in providing funds under Corporate Social Responsibility schemes were detailed in the petition.
