CWG scam: Court to frame charges against 6 in street lightning scam

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court is likely to frame charges tomorrow against six persons, including four MCD officials, for their alleged role in a corruption case involving street-lighting before the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Special CBI Judge Pradeep Chaddah had decided on February 24 to frame charges against MCD Superintendent Engineer D K Sugan, Executive Engineer O P Mahala, Accountant Raju V and civic body's tender clerk Gurcharan Singh.

Besides them, the court had also decided to frame charges against Director J P Singh and Managing Director T P Singh of private firm Sweska Powertech Engineers Pvt Ltd, who were allegedly illegally favoured in the award of street lighting contract during the games in 2010.

Another accused Mehul Karnik, an employee of Philips India Pvt Ltd, was, however, discharged from the case. Except Raju and Karnik, all other accused are in judicial custody.

While passing the order on framing of charges, the court had said there was prima facie evidence to put these six persons on trial for their alleged roles in the scam case.

The CBI had charge-sheeted the accused under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), forgery under IPC and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The street lightning scam is one of the ten CWG-related scams, probed by the CBI.

The agency had in its charge sheet alleged that in view of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the MCD had decided to upgrade street lightning to international standard.

According to the charge sheet, tenders were invited by the civic agency in 2008 and five companies, including Sweska Powertech applied for it, while the MCD commissioner approved only three companies.