The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked 18 persons, including four Navy officials, for allegedly submitting forged contingent bills amounting to ₹6.76 crore.
The accused officials of the Western Naval Command and five others from the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) for Navy in Mumbai conspired with private entities to furnish the forged bills, to show that IT hardware equipment were supplied and IT services extended to the Command headquarters.
Among those arraigned are Captain Atul Kulkarni, Commanders Mandar Godbole and R.P. Sharma, Kuldeep Singh Baghel, and five private companies. A complaint alleging submission of fake bills was first submitted to the authorities concerned in October 2017.
During the inquiry, seven suspicious bills pertaining to the Western Naval Command headquarters were found. The bills were passed and payments were cleared in March 2016. Physical copies of the bills were not available at the PCDA’s Mumbai office.
As it turned out, using the Financial Information System, one of the contingency bills was allegedly prepared by Commander Godbole and six by Commander Sharma.
You have reached your limit for free articles this month.
To get full access, please subscribe.
Already have an account ? Sign in
Show Less Plan
Subscription Benefits Include
Today's Paper
Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.
Faster pages
Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.
Unlimited Access
Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.
Dashboard
A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.
Personalised recommendations
A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.
Briefing
We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.
*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.
A letter from the Editor
Dear subscriber,
Thank you!
Your support for our journalism is invaluable. It’s a support for truth and fairness in journalism. It has helped us keep apace with events and happenings.
The Hindu has always stood for journalism that is in the public interest. At this difficult time, it becomes even more important that we have access to information that has a bearing on our health and well-being, our lives, and livelihoods. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler.
We also reiterate here the promise that our team of reporters, copy editors, fact-checkers, designers, and photographers will deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda.
Suresh Nambath