Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Haq Nawaz Zargar today framed charges against Vinod Sharma, the then Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Ashok Kumar Gandotra, Executive Engineer JDA and Syed Sajad Ahmed Qalander, Prop M/s Ess Que Furniture Works.
As per the challan, a verification was conducted into the allegation that Vinod Sharma, the then Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority without floating any tenders for renovation/interior works of JDA office complex (Ground floor) Vikas Bhawan Jammu authorized his blue eyed agency namely M/s Ess Que Furniture Works. He granted approval for installation of 10 two ton ACs and some allied certified electric works at ground floor of allotment section for which tenders were floated by Engineer JDA-I, on receipt of communication from Superintending Engineer JDA.
During tendering process, M/s Luman Engineers was found as L-l, however, instead of allotting works to L-1 firm, the then VC JDA Vinod Sharma deliberately and intentionally under a well knit conspiracy hatched with T R Sargotra, the then Superintending Engineer, JDA (now expired) and Ashok Gandotra, the then Executive Engineer, JDA-1 to confer undue benefit to a particular firm M/s Ess Que Furniture Works, approved the renovation/interior works at a cost of Rs 40.83 lakh.
The scope of work was changed from the installation of ACs/electrical works to renovation/interior works along with installation of ACs without any tendering process, which resulted into the increase in expenditure. The work was allotted on nomination basis to the firm without any justification as well as without any tendering in blatant violation of tendering process and requisite codal formalities.
In this way, the then VC JDA Vinod Sharma, T R Sargotra, the then Superintending Engineer JDA (now expired) and Ashok Gandotra, the then Executive Engineer JDA- 1 in league with each other and with the proprietor of beneficiary firm M/s Ess Que Furniture Works conferred undue pecuniary advantage upon the proprietor of beneficiary firm. The Engineering Wing of ACB as such projected a total loss of Rs 2,12,295 on account of civil works.
After hearing APP Amir Al Mansoor for the ACB whereas Senior Advocate Rahul Pant with Advocate Manik Khajuria for the alleged accused, the court observed, “prima facie, offences punishable under Section 5(2) read with Section 5(1) (d) Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B RPC are made out against the accused persons”.
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