CBI searches five places in Jabalpur over tender irregularities

JABALPUR: CBI today conducted searches at five locations in the city, including the residences of two employees of the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur ( VFJ) and two private companies here and recovered incriminating documents related to manipulating tenders of the defence establishment.

Besides the five locations here, including the residences of two Chargemen of an Ordinance Unit of the VFJ, a military motor vehicle manufacturing company, the investigative agency also carried out searches at two places in Delhi and one in Kolkata.

"CBI carried out searches at eight places - five here (Jabalpur), two in Delhi and one in Kolkata and seized huge incriminating documents regarding the allotment of tender by the VFJ through unfair means," CBI Superintendent of Police Manish Surti told PTI.

"Searches were carried out here at the residences and offices of VFJ chargemen Ashish Kumar and Pankaj Chaturvedi, as well as the offices of Messrs Reform Tools in Kolkata and Messrs Felex Auto Private Limited based in Delhi," he added.

According to the CBI officer, they got some clinching evidence of the money received by Ashish and Pankaj to favour the two companies and also found banking transaction of over Rs 75,000.

Ashish and Pankaj have been childhood friends and worked hand in glove to favour the companies, Surti said.