The enquiry was launched after the vigilance wing received a tip-off. They started checking bills and if the goods had been delivered. (File)The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) Saturday arrested three officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for allegedly releasing a payment of around Rs 50 lakh to three private firms, despite them failing to deliver equipment.
ACB identified the arrested men as executive engineer Attar Singh Kaushal and junior engineer Parvesh Kumar, working with the electrical and mechanical department, and Vikas Kumar, an assistant accounts officer. “Raids are being conducted to arrest contractors and another engineer of the electrical and mechanical department,” said an officer.
ACB chief Arvind Deep said the three officials were produced before a Delhi court and sent to three-day police remand. “In January, we registered an FIR under sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under relevant IPC sections, after receiving a complaint from the DJB’s vigilance wing,” he said.
The ACB had received a complaint filed by the head of the vigilance wing, alleging that three officials posted with the Shalimar Bagh and Bharat Nagar offices allegedly tried to release payment for goods which had not been supplied to the department concerned. The DJB CEO gave approval to the vigilance team to approach the ACB. The enquiry was launched after the vigilance wing received a tip-off. They started checking bills and if the goods had been delivered.
It was found some bogus bills had been processed for payment without receipt of material, despite non-execution of work. “The probe also found that the department’s team did not check if the goods had been delivered. The tender for the project was allegedly allotted in a biased manner,” an ACB officer said.
