NEW DELHI, Dec 31: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recommended action against former chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi for suppression of facts in an alleged corruption case and directed CBI probe in LTC scams among others during 2013.
The anti-corruption watchdog also sought report from departments concerned on alleged irregularities exposed by other agencies including Jet-Etihad deal and Rs 5,600 crore payment default by National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL).
In its effort to ensure transparency in governance, the CVC directed rotation of officers handling sensitive posts and regulations in public procurement, a government activity, involving crores of rupees, susceptible to corruption.
It was in the news for continuously weighing and submitting status reports before Supreme Court in multi-crore scams in allocations of second generation (2G) spectrum to telecom firms and coal blocks to certain private entities.
Both the cases have been investigated by the CBI.
The probity watchdog also acted on more than 15,000 corruption complaints sent to it by people and sought action taken report from government departments concerned. It recovered about Rs 90 crore after inspecting works, including public procurement, carried out by different government organisations.
The CVC, which went into alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games related civic and construction projects, also coordinated with tax authorities to ensure recovery of dues from private companies and government departments.
At least 37 government departments have spent over Rs 13,000 crore in 9,000 publicly funded CWG-related projects.
The CVC has detected tax evasion of about Rs 1,000 crore in execution of these projects, according to official sources.
However, it is still trying to implement its anti-corruption strategy, draft of which was prepared in 2010, aimed at further tightening its noose on graft.
The CVC has conducted a direct inquiry on the basis of complaints of corruption and nepotism in the CWG OC. The probe report was referred to the CBI for detailed investigation.
“The CBI report (was) received and after examination, the Commission decided to close the matter. However, the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) is advised to take action as deemed fit in the matter of suppression of facts by Kalmadi and furnish action taken report to the Commission,” the CVC had said in response to an RTI query.
It also found alleged irregularities in Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scam involving certain government official and recommended a CBI probe in August.
CBI has prima facie found “criminality” by senior officials of Rajya Sabha Secretariat and some Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in claiming LTC. The agency is likely to soon file FIRs in the matter.
The CVC is also looking into complaints of alleged irregularities by some consumer affairs ministry officials in connection with Rs 5,600 crore payment default by National Spot Exchange Ltd. (NSEL).
Commodity exchange NSEL, promoted by Jignesh Shah-led Financial Technologies (India) Ltd (FTIL), is facing multi-agency probe for the payment crisis.
The Commission also went into a complaint of alleged corruption by a BJP MP in Rs 2,058-crore deal between Jet Airways and and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways.
The complaint, which was sent to the CVC by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey last month, alleged a serious fraud to cheat the government of India and cause huge loss of revenue of Rs 500 crore to the national exchequer by Jet Airways in collusion with senior officials and higher ups in Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The CVC was regularly monitoring CBI probe into irregularities in coal blocks allocation. The coal blocks were allocated to private companies between 2006 and 2009.
Continuing with its policy of name and shame, the Commission also put details of corrupt officials along with their designations on its website. The CVC has so far this year recommended punishment to over 700 officials, including some senior level functionaries, for their alleged involvement in corruption. (PTI)
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