Commonwealth Games scam: CBI set to file second chargesheet against MCD officials for 'inflated bills'

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation's second chargesheet in the Commonwealth Games scam will cover conspiracy hatched by a clutch of senior officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, or MCD, in collusion with promoters of a private firm which submitted inflated bills.

The case dates back to 2008, when MCD floated a tender for streetlighting. A stretch of 101.56 km of roads was covered in the contract bagged by Sweka Engineering, a Rajouri Garden-based firm, for Rs. 34.53 crore.

CBI is awaiting MCD's nod to prosecute two senior officials and two low-ranking employees. MCD is examining CBI's request and a chargesheet will be filed as soon as CBI receives sanction. Among those likely to be named in the chargesheet include MCD superintending engineers DK Sugan and OP Mahala, Gurucharan Singh (UDC-tendering ), V Raju (accountant), Sweka Engineering, its two co-promoters JP Singh and TP Singh and Mehul Karnik, an employee of Philips (India).

Sugan, Gurucharan Singh, JP Singh, TP Singh and Karnik CBI are in Tihar jail. The case in the streetlighting scandal was the first to be registered by CBI as part of its probe into the irregularities committed by various agencies in planning and executing the Games.

CBI investigations allege that MCD officials colluded with Sweka Engineering for kickbacks. The CBI alleges criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery in the deal. Sweka Engineering won the contract after entering into a "criminal conspiracy" with MCD officials, alleges CBI. Acting on the directive of the Central Vigilance Commission, CBI filed an FIR in the case on June 16, 2010.

CVC, after an intensive examination of Phase I of the upgradation of street lighting on Delhi roads falling under MCD jurisdiction, found that the tender submitted by a consortium led by Sweka was opened, "to increase the quoted amount to avail the difference between the next higher quoted amount without changing the overall status."

A consortium of Space Age and GE India was the other bidder. CBI's FIR alleges MCD officials, after entering into a criminal conspiracy with Sweka caused undue pecuniary loss of Rs 3.62 crore to the government, and a corresponding advantage to the private firm. CBI found Sweka's tender papers tampered. Evidences of over-writing were also found.