Shadow of Rs 1,000 crore scam over Kandla port, CVO P Ramjee faces the heat

AHMEDABAD: A massive scam seems to be berthing at Kandla, one of the biggest central government-run ports. And, it is none other than the port's own corruption watchdog, the chief vigilance officer, who is facing the heat.

A court in Gandhidham on May 30 directed the local anti-corruption bureau (ACB) to lodge an FIR under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 420 (cheating) and forgery into the allegations of Rs 1,000 crore corruption in dredging contracts against the CVO, P Ramjee.

Dredging is the process of deepening water channels by removing silt and mud to maintain the depth in order to allow bigger ships to berth at the port and ensure that the vessels are not grounded.

The court passed the order following a petition by Sanjay Bhaty , who works as a trade promotion and public relation officer at the Kandla Port Trust (KPT), seeking investigation against Ramjee and other officials for allegedly favouring a private company that is engaged in dredging at Kandla. It is alleged that hefty bills of the firm were passed even as they did not carry out adequate dredging that ultimately resulted in the ships getting grounded frequently .

Ramjee, a 1998 batch Rajasthan cadre IPS officer, refused to comment on the matter as it was sub-judice. However, he claimed that there was no negative remark in his 17 years of police service.

"Following my complaints in October 2011, the CVC had also initiated a probe into these allegations and their preliminary inquiry had suggested that the dredging scam could touch Rs 1,000 crore," Bhaty told the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Gandhidham.

Ramjee took over as CVO at Kandla Port Trust on January 16, 2012. The CVC then handed over the case to Ramjee in No vember 2012. The official is accused of downsizing the recoveries from the firm to Rs 100 crore while he handled the case. Officials of KPT's vigilance department claimed that two inquiries were conducted recently in the allegations related to dredging and both the times, no substance was found in the complaints. "We have submitted our report to the CVC in which we have said that the total recoveries from the private firm has been Rs 100 crore," an official said.

KPT's in-charge chairman Ravi Parmar told TOI: "I have not seen the court order. But strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty (of corruption)."