Plea for CBI probe gathering dust
LUCKNOW: Amidst hype surrounding Agra-Lucknow Expressway, under scanner for land-use change fraud to get higher compensation, a recommendation for a CBI probe into alleged multi-crore bungling in the construction of another highway is gathering dust.
The case relates to siphoning off Rs 455 crore by a Hyderabadbased firm in connivance with the staff of 14 banks in the construction of four-lane Delhi-Haryana highway.
The first information report (FIR) was registered by Uttar Pradesh State Highways Authorities (UPSHA) on February 20, in the midst of polling for UP assembly elections 2017 at Vibhuti Khand police station in Lucknow.
Given the magnitude and serious nature of the case, the UP government sought a report from the police wanting to know whether it would be appropriate to hand over the investigation to the central bureau of investigation (CBI).
“We submitted our findings in March recommending a CBI probe in the matter,” confirmed circle officer of Gomti Nagar police station Satya Sen when contacted by Hindustan Times.
The officials in the home department, however, are tightlipped on the matter.
A senior official, on condition of anonymity, did confirm though that they had received the report saying it was being vetted for ‘necessary action.’
Apart from four officials of the construction agency SEWLSY Highways Limited – those accused in the FIR included staff of 14 banks with whose connivance the fraud was perpetuated.
A departmental inquiry exposed the fraud following which the then chief executive officer of UPSHA, Navneet Sehgal ordered to register FIR in the matter.
Uttar Pradesh State Highways Authorities general manager (Projects) Shiv Kumar Awadhiya was tasked to get a case registered against the Hyderabad construction agency for criminal breach of trust, cheating by impersonation and fraud with help of chartered accounts and officials of 14 different banks of Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Secunderabad.
The firm’s officials got loans cleared from these banks through fraudulent means on the basis of contract work for construction of Delhi-Saharanpur four lane highway allotted to the firm in March, 2012.
Those accused in the FIR included two promoter directors of the construction firm, Sukarwa Anil and Aloi Saibaba and two directors PS Murthy and Y Venkatraghvan.
The firm completed construction work worth Rs 148 crore only and on the basis of it got cleared loans worth Rs 603 crore with the connivance of the staff of the banks concerned.
THE CASE RELATES TO SIPHONING OFF RS 455 CR BY A HYDERABADBASED FIRM IN CONNIVANCE WITH THE STAFF OF 14 BANKS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOURLANE DELHIHARYANA HIGHWAY