Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27: The State Vigilance Organization (SVO) today registered a case against officers and officials of Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) including Daleep Thusoo, the then Managing Director of JKPCC for purchasing items from SICOP at exorbitant rates.
An official handout issued by the Vigilance Organisation said a verification was conducted by the Vigilance into the allegations that Daleep Thusoo, the then Managing Director JKPCC for purchasing some items from SICOP at exorbitant rates.
“During the course of verification, it surfaced that JKPCC had floated NIT dated 17-05-2014, for purchase of cement without approaching J&K Cement Ltd, which was mandatory as per the Government instructions but due to reportedly poor response the tenders were cancelled and supply of cements was finalized in favour of Jai Prakash Associates Ltd on previous financial year rate i.e Rs 263 per bag, which supplied cement from January 2015 to August 2015.
Subsequently, the handout said, JKPCC vide NIT dated 05-05-2015 invited tenders for the supply of cement. Jai Prakash Associates Ltd were declared the lowest bidder who had quoted the rates Rs. 263 per bag. JKPCC issued another tender vide NIT dated 05-02-2016 wherein Jai Prakash Associates Ltd were declared the lowest bidder who had quoted the rates Rs 293 per bag. SICOP had not participated in any of these tenders.
“Despite the fact that there was no interruption of cement supply on the part of Jai Prakash Associates Ltd with whom JKPCC had entered into a contract to supply cement at Rs 293 per bag pursuant to the finalization of tender issued vide NIT dated 05-02-2016, for unknown reasons placed a supply order with SICOP. JKPCC opted for supply of cement from SICOP at an average rate of Rs. 412 per bag to the tune of 38000 bags amounting to Rs 1,56,73,288.
During the course of verification, it also surfaced that JKPCC had purchased cement quantity from SICOP without any formal orders and in violation of norms.
“JKPCC in utter disregard to NIT proceedings, purchased cement quantity in question on highly exorbitant rates from SICOP without any legal justification and with objective to confer undue pecuniary benefit upon SICOP and its private suppliers.
Thus the officers of JKPCC with corrupt motives and in connivance with one another by abuse and misuse of their official position as public servants illegally purchased cement quantity in question from SICOP which resulted in huge loss to State exchequer,’’ the Vigilance handout said.
A case under various Sections has been registered against the accused officers and officials of JKPCC.
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