ED cracks down on babus taking bribes for influencing contracts
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NEW DELHI: From Chennai to Patna,
Enforcement Directorate
(ED) has initiated a series of actions against bureaucrats and middlemen allegedly involved in taking bribes for influencing award of govt contracts.
In one case, the agency Friday carried out searches at 16 locations in Chennai associated with various state officials and middlemen in connection with irregularities in award of govt contracts in Tamil Nadu.
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Around Rs 5 crore was seized during the searches.
"The searches unearthed a deep-rooted and systemic corruption network involving prominent consultants across key govt departments. Evidence reveals that consultants/brokers acted as middlemen, floated shell companies and consultancy firms through which kickbacks were routed under the guise of service fees and consultancy payments," ED said.
In another case related to irregularities in procurement of medical items in
Patna Medical College
and Hospital, ED attached 10 properties and other assets worth Rs 3 crore of various suppliers in Greater Noida, Patna and Darbhanga. The attachment in this case has exceeded Rs 6 crore, with over Rs 3 crore of assets attached earlier.
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PMCH case relates to procurement of medicines, reagents, machines and equipment at exorbitant rates and in higher quantities. Former PMCH superintendent OP Choudhary is one of the accused in the case. The alleged irregularities were committed during 2008-10.
ED said the total irregularities and loss to govt has been estimated to be over Rs 12 crore. Bihar vigilance department has also filed a case and chargesheet against the accused persons.
In the Chennai case, ED conducted searches in Chennai and Vellore on May 6 at 16 at premises associated with certain officers and prominent consultants engaged with Tamil Nadu govt departments.
ED's money laundering case is based on an FIR by state vigilance department that had booked S Pandian, superintendent in the state's environment department, and others in an alleged disproportionate assets case.
The agency claimed the web of corruption was found to operate through fixed commissions paid to officials for obtaining illegal and expedited clearances.
ED said its investigation in the Chennai case has "confirmed the role of key consultants: Prabhakar Sigamony, AK Nathan, Naveen Kumar, Santhosh Kumar and Vinoth Kumar, in facilitating illegal approvals". Unaccounted cash of Rs 4.7 crore, intended for bribe payments, was seized during the searches, it added.
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