The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at the corporate office of state-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and the residential premises of four NLC officials in connection with alleged irregularities in award of contracts.
According to sources, a 23-member CBI team conducted the searches for six hours last night across eight premises. Incriminating documents and cash were seized during the raid, according to a statement by CBI.
The searches were held following complaints of corruption in awarding contracts and purchase of equipment in mines in the public sector unit.
NLC Chairman and Managing Director A R Ansari said, “Our records are clean and nothing to worry about. It was a routine exercise.”
According to the statement, the Anti-Corruption Branch of CBI in Chennai has registered a criminal case against B Sivagnanam, chief general manager (contracts), and S Vijayan, deputy general manager (contracts) of NLC and Thyssenkrupp Industries India Pvt Ltd, Pune, for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy (120B IPC), cheating (420 IPC) and criminal misconduct (13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988, committed by them with regard to the irregularities in the award and execution of contracts for supply and erection of conveyor systems at Mine-II of NLC, Neyveli.
