Irrigation scam: More contractors, officers, politicians to be named
Vigilance bureau officials said on Saturday that while bungling of about Rs 150 crore has been highlighted in the first chargesheet in the irrigation project tender scam, supplementary challans will be filed as more contractors, officers and politicians are being are under in due course as the investigation is still, in progress in the case.
A senior VB official, unnamed as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said as many as 50 persons are being investigated in this case and would be questioned after gathering more facts. He said that this is the biggest scam in the irrigation department and would take “considerable time” to probe.
The bureau is specifically looking at the trail of money withdrawn by accused contractor Gurinder Singh from his bank accounts and lockers, including a demand draft of Rs 10 crore prepared by him right after the VB registered the case.
The officials also shared details of the challan so far, related to three dams’ construction, including the Shahpur Kandi project, Kandi canal and a small one near Nara village in Hoshiarpur.
Citing an example, the official said that in case of Shahpur Kandi, where e-tendering was done, bids were disclosed to Gurinder who then quoted his bid lower by Re 1 to bag the contract.
In Shahpur Kandi, approximately Rs 450 crore was paid for works from 2010 to 2016, “of which about 90% went to Gurinder Singh”. The project was divided into two phases to favour Gurinder, it is further alleged.
The challan also states how terms and conditions of various contracts or tenders were made by senior officials of irrigation department after conniving with Gurinder.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM IN THE IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT AND THUS WILL TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME TO PROBE, SAY OFFICIALS