Court finds evidence of graft against NDMC engineers

A special court here has found evidence against two New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) engineers and three others for hatching a conspiracy and causing heavy losses to state exchequer during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge in a recent order said that the loss was caused because renovation of the Shivaji Stadium and Talkatora Stadium was granted to an inexperienced company during the Commonwealth Games 2010 (CWG 2010).

Special CBI Judge Madhu Jain said that prima facie a case under Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) is made out against then NDMC superintendent engineer R.S. Thakur and executive engineer V.K. Gulati, company Raja Aederi Consultants Pvt. Ltd., its chairman Raja Aederi and director Uday Shankar Bhatt.

"In addition, a case under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act is also made out against accused R.S. Thakur and V.K. Gulati as they also dishonestly induced the department to award the contract to M/s Raja Aederi Consultants Pvt. Ltd. knowing fully well that accused Raja Aederi Consultants Pvt. Ltd. does not possess the requisite qualification for the same," the court added.

The court observed the accused not only caused wrongful gain to Raja Aederi Consultants but also caused wrongful loss to the department and said: "Prima facie case under Section 420 (cheating) IPC is also made out against Raja Aederi, Uday Shankar Bhatt and Raja Aederi Consultants Pvt. Ltd."

The court fixed July 3 for framing of charges against the accused.

According to the CBI, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and abused their official position in awarding the consultancy contract of Rs.30 crore.