CBI files charge-sheet against retd executive engineer, 5 others

LUCKNOW: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a charge sheet against six people, including the then executive engineer, Lucknow Division Sharda Canal (LDSC), and a private firm, as well as its two directors, in a case related to irregularities in the Gomti riverfront project, said senior CBI officials.

A senior CBI official said the accused charge-sheeted were Roop Singh Yadav, the then executive engineer of LDSC Lucknow (also then in-charge superintending engineer, XII Circle, irrigation works, Lucknow), Raj Kumar Yadav, the then junior assistant, irrigation works, Lucknow, Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta, directors of M/s KK Spun Pipe Pvt Ltd, and Badri Shrestha, senior advisor of M/s Brand Eagles Longjian, which had a joint venture with M/s KK Spun Pipe Pvt Ltd. CBI had earlier arrested Roop Singh Yadav, now retired, and Raj Kumar in the case after carrying out raids at their places in Lucknow on December 20, 2020. He said the charge sheet in the case was filed at the CBI court, Lucknow, in the matter of award of work of intercepting trunk drain related to Gomti riverfront Project. He said the CBI had registered the case in the matter on November 30, 2017 on the request of the Uttar Pradesh government.

It was alleged that irregularities were committed in implementation of the Gomti river channelisation project and Gomti riverfront development by the irrigation department of the UP govt. He said it was further alleged that the accused awarded the work for intercepting trunk drain to an ineligible private firm and the date of tender was twice extended to accommodate the said firm. In addition, the forged documents of another bidder/private party were arranged by the accused to complete the quorum of three participants in the tender, he added.

The official said the investigation revealed that the agreement for the work was allegedly executed by the accused without obtaining the approval and allotment of funds. He said the bank guarantee of the L-2 firm was allegedly prepared from the bank account of the L-1 company. Further investigation was on to look into the role of other accused, he said.