RDD starts own fact finding exercise despite registration of FIR by ACB

Multi-crore hoardings, IEC material purchase scam

Parallel enquiry will indirectly benefit accused officials

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 8: Notwithstanding detailed investigation being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the multi-crore flex boards, hoardings and Information Education and Communication (IEC) material purchase scam, Rural Development Department has started parallel exercise to ascertain the factual details, which has raised eyebrows in the official circles on the ground that this step will benefit the accused officials only.
In this much-publicized scam, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (formerly State Vigilance Organization) had registered FIR No.7/2019 dated January 30, 2019 against two former Directors of the Rural Development Department Jammu, former Assistant Commissioner Development Jammu and District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
The FIR was based on the outcome of the Joint Surprise Check conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau into the allegations that the officers of the Rural Development Department without calling tenders bestowed works related to the installation of flex boards, hoardings and banner under MGNREGA and SBM depicting the progress achieved in different works, to the blue eyed persons in their respective areas.
In the process these officers released payment of Rs 90,000 per hoarding against the actual cost of Rs 20,000 as such caused loss to the State exchequer in sheer abuse of their official position.
Notwithstanding the detailed investigation being conducted by the premier investigating agency of the State into the scam, the Rural Development Department has started parallel exercise to ascertain the factual details, which has come under sharp criticism from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and raised eyebrows in the official circles.
“In order to ascertain the factual details with regard to allocation and execution of different works related to preparation/installation of flex boards, hoardings and banner under MGNREGA and SBM without following the codal formalities, sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee”, reads the Government Order No.140-RD & PR dated April 5, 2019.
The committee headed by Additional Secretary to Government, Department of Rural Development Panchayati Raj, who is also Chief Vigilance Officer, and comprising of FA/CAO of the Rural Development Department and Assistant Commissioner (Development) Jammu has been asked to submit its report/findings within a period of one month.
“There is no justification in conducting fact-finding inquiry by the department especially when detailed investigation is being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau after registration of formal FIR”, sources said. How impartiality can be expected from the officers of the department, which is already in the dock? sources asked.
They further said, “Chief Vigilance Officer of the Rural Development Department cannot be expected to be more competent in unravelling the facts than the Investigating Officers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau for being the professional investigators”, adding “there are apprehensions that even minor favourable findings would be of immense help for the accused officials in challenging the FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in the court to get the same stayed”.
“The role of the departments comes only when Anti-Corruption Bureau makes recommendations for initiation of Regular Departmental Action, which has remote chances in this multi-crore scam as sufficient material is already in the possession of ACB to hold the accused officials guilty”, sources further said, adding “had fact finding exercise been started soon after the allegations were levelled against the officials of the department it would have all the justifications”.
When contacted, Secretary to the Government, Rural Development Department Sheetal Nanda said, “we have initiated internal exercise to ascertain the facts so that pending payments of those who had executed the works are released”. “Our exercise will have no bearing on the outcome of the Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR”, she added.
As per the Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR, during the financial year 2016-17, officers of the Rural Development Department in Jammu, Samba and Kathua namely M L Raina and R K Bhat, the then Directors of Rural Development Department Jammu, Shokat Mehmood Malik, the then ACD Jammu, Deepak Dubey, District Panchayat Officer Samba, Anirudh Rai Sharma, District Panchayat Officer Jammu and Pardeep Kumar, District Panchayat Officer Kathua at their own free will and without authorization allocated and executed different works related to preparation/installation of flex boards, hoardings and banners under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Schemes for generating awareness among the people, without fulfilling the codal formalities.
A substantial amount was also spent on the works related to paintings on walls through National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India, M/s Jammu Enterprises Channi Himmat and M/s Hashmi Enterprises Narwal Bye-Pass, which otherwise was a wasteful expenditure, the FIR said, adding “an amount of Rs 1,99,00683 was booked as expenditure on the works relating to hoardings and paintings on the walls which were executed at highly exorbitant rates”.
The works related to hoardings and paintings were executed at the rate of Rs 415 per square feet and Rs 24 per square feet against the prevailing market rates of Rs 180 per square feet and Rs 16.70 per square feet as a result of which a loss of Rs 79,26,864 was inflicted on the State exchequer, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said.

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