Early Times Report
Jammu, May 6: The "tainted" official of the Power Development Department, who "fraudulently" released crores of rupees in favor of an "erring" firm owing penalty to the state government, has been allegedly breaking records of corruption and favoritism, less than a month ahead of his scheduled retirement.
Sources said the official at Chief Engineer Project Wing Kashmir not only illegally released Rs 32 Crores in favour of the "erring firm" under R-APDRP scheme but has promised them another "payment of fortune" in the coming days. He had released Rs 17 Crore in November as "mobilization advance", a decision which he is "not authorized to take" without approval from the government.
Sources close to the "erring" firm said they are hopeful to get another Rs 15 crores released in the coming days.
It was reliably learnt the firm is not interested to execute the project in Kashmir anymore and that it wants to get as much payment released as possible without payment of Rs 40 crore penalty. "Such a payment is windfall for the firm," the officials said.
Sources said the accused official has also assured the "tainted" firm that he would bring some changes in the contract to meet their desires provided his interests are met.
Sources in the Civil Secretariat said they have credible inputs that the official in PDD's offi Multi-crore scam in PDD Part- II
"This is the last leg of his innings and he (Chief Engineer) wants to grab as much as possible," said a senior official of the PDD.
Sources said the official working as Chief Engineer enjoys patronage of some senior ministers and other leaders from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Insiders after the Early Times reported Part-I of this series, the "tainted" official contacted his "masters in the PDP", to know if his posting would be safe.
"The good news for him is that he has been asked not to worry. This is the height of corruption and favoritism in the state government but unfortunately New Delhi is silent on the issue," said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
Officials said the accused "technocrat" was not authorized to release any such payments but he has been doing it in violation of norms only due to the political patronage he enjoys.
"Buy now this officer could have been behind the bars than to talk of his suspension alone but he continues to be in power," said a top official adding that the matter was being brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary.
(To be concluded) | 