CAG detects payments against fake bills during WC Kabaddi

The World Cup Kabaddi, touted as a mega sporting event by the previous government in Punjab, has been blemished by irregular payments made against bogus bills.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found instances of payments to transporters on the basis of fake bills during the 2nd World Cup Kabaddi held at Bathinda. The bogus bills submitted for use of buses carried vehicle registration numbers of scooters, motorcycles, cars and trucks, according to the audit report tabled in the state assembly on Wednesday.

The federal auditor has also found that an expenditure of ₹1.78 crore was incurred during the kabaddi tournament for making arrangements in contravention of rules without inviting quotations or tenders. As per the Punjab financial rules, when purchases are made from the open market, the system of open competitive tender should, as far possible, be adopted. The performance audit of Punjab State Sports Council was carried out by the CAG for the period from 2011 to 2016.

“During the 2nd World Cup Kabaddi held in November 2011, DSC had paid ₹3,500 per bus to six private transporters for using their 227 buses. Verification of records of the district transport officer revealed that the bills of 47 buses were bogus as the registration numbers shown in the bill were of scooters, motorcycles, cars and trucks,” it said.

Further, a transporter was paid for the services of seven Innova cars at the rate of ₹1,500 per vehicle per day, out of which two registration numbers were of a smaller car and a tractor. Similar irregularities were noticed in Muktsar district where the payment of ₹1.50 lakh claimed by the DTO appeared to be fictitious, according to the report. HTC

BOGUS BILLS SUBMITTED FOR USE OF BUSES CARRIED REGISTRATION NUMBERS OF TWOWHEELERS, CARS AND TRUCKS