PIL seeks CBI probe into alleged irregularities in bitumen

A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe into alleged irregularities of Rs 1000 crore in purchase of bitumen in Tamil Nadu.
The PIL has been filed by RTI activist G Balaji.
Though the above PIL was listed for hearing today it could not come up before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, which got occupied in other cases.
The product, which is the primary requirement for road construction, has become a primary source for officials of state highways department to siphon over Rs 1000 crore of public funds from the government's coffer, Balaji alleged in his PIL.

He alleged that officials of state highways department in collusion with contractors "cashed out" Rs 800 to 1000 crore from 2014-16 in the guise of procuring bitumen for road laying and maintenance work.
Submitting proof, which he claimed, he had gathered through RTI applications from the department, the petitioner wanted the court to order a probe by the CBI or any other independent agency.