Six chargesheeted for 'irregularities' in awarding contract for Ghorazari canal project in Nagpur

The Anti Corruption Bureau on Saturday filed a chargesheet before a Special Nagpur Court against six people in connection with irregularities in awarding tender for the Ghorazari branch canal project.

Divulging detail of the chargesheets, Anti Corruption Bureau Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjay Darade told reporter here, "The ACB filed a chargesheet against six people, including the then five VIDC officers - executive director, chief engineer, superintendent engineer, executive engineer, and divisional accountant - and beneficiary contractor F.A. Construction's partner Nisar Khatri at a Nagpur Special Court."

"In February, an offence was registered in the Ghorazari branch canal project, and a chargesheet was submitted in the court today by the investigating officer after examining all documentary evidences, statements, bank details and expert committee opinion," he said.

"Our investigation found that officers of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) conspired to provide benefit to the contractors by pre-qualification process, scrutiny of documents, and after granting tender, they made revised tender estimates. The difference between the main estimate and the revised one was found almost Rs. 7.38 crores, which was done illegally.

"Besides, division officers also helped the contractor, who had submitted forged certificates to VIDC to fetch the contract, all these things were taken into consideration while collecting evidences," the SP added.

He further said the contractor had carried out some work, but the quality of work was not their mandate; however, the "tendering process and the revised estimate were aimed at benefitting the contractor".

The ACB officer said the investigation into the offence would continue further to find more evidences and if they found any other accused, they would file a supplementary chargesheet.

The Maharashtra Government has ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate into irregularities in tender process and works carried out by the Water Reservoir Department, under which the Nagpur ACB has been carrying out an investigation to find if there was any irregularity in the tendering process and awarding tenders for the Gosikhurd project in the Vidarbha region.