news details |
|
|
| Jute Matting Scam | | Corruption charges against former Additional C S | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec: 20 (JNF):- In the much publicized Jute Matting Scam, the court framed corruption charges against former Additional Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar IAS, Janak Singh former Financial Advisor, Ghulam Rasool Vakil alias Lassa Vakil, Abdul Rehman Bhat Prop M/S Commercial Corporation Ltd Srinagar Supplier Jute Matting, Mumtaz-u-Nissa former Director School Education Kashmir and A R Mubarki and former Additional Secretary School Education.
Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu AK Koul today after hearing Advocate DS Chouhan for Ajit Kumar, Advocate PN Raina for Janak Singh, Senior Advocate ZA Shah for Lassa Vakil and Rajesh Sharma for supplier firm whereas CPO Purshtom Sharma with Senior PO Parshant Mahajan appearing for VOJ, framed corruption charges against the accused named above. Ajit Kumar IAS, Janak Singh then CAO/FA u/s 5(2) 5(1) (d) J&K PC Act and 120-B of RPC whereas Ghulam Rasool Vakil alias Lassa Vakil and Abdul Rehman Bhat charged u/s 120-B RPC.
The court further observed that there is sufficient ground for proceedings against the left State Level Purchase Committee Member, Mumtaz-u-Nissa then Director School Education Kashmir and A R Mubarki then Additional Secretary School Education are not in attendance for the obvious reason that they have not been arrayed as accused. So both of them are also arrayed as accused along with others and issued summons against both of them so that they can also be charged for the crime committed by them and summoned by Sent to SP VOK for execution.
According to VOJ case a state level purchase committee of education dept headed by Ajit Kumar the then Additional Chief Secretary along with other members including Mrs. Mumtaz-u-Nissa and AK Mehta as Director School Education Kashmir/ Jammu and Mr. Janak Singh FA/CAO Education Dept besides by virtue of an addendum to the said order another member Additional Secretary to Govt Education Dept was included in the State Level Purchase Committee vide Govt order October 8, 1997, at that time AR Mubarki was Acting as Additional Secretary to Govt Education Dept. Pursuant to constitution of SLPC education dept issued NIT on July 16, 1997 for purchase of jute matting from original manufactures fixing the last date for receipt of tenders August 20, 1997. In response to NIT 9 tenders were received, however, on September 3, 1997, Ajit Kumar took over as Additional Chief Secretary Education Dept and by virtue of his posting he becomes ex-officio Chairman of the SLPC. The SLPC met under the chairmanship of Ajit Kumar on September 18, 1997 and October 8, 1997 and pursuant to a conspiracy in these two crucial meetings it was decided that SLPC would go only for the purchase of Birla make jute matting although it was not stipulation in the NIT.
According to the case the investigation conducted reveals that out of 3 tenders one was filed in the name of M/S Commercial Corporation while as the other two tenders were from the name & style of Kashmir furnishing & international trading corporation. These two tenders were also found by the same person and it was proved that out of two firms one firm Kashmir Furnishing House was non-existent company, while as M/S National Trading Corporation Ltd belongs to Muzaffar Sajad s/o accused No 4 Abdul Rehman Bhat (Prop of Commercial Corp). In fact these 3 tenders were filed deliberately in the name of Birla Brand while two tenders instead of CDR/FDRs worth Rs 2 lacs each, two cheque leaves were annexed. Both these cheques were found issued against the accounts of accused No 4 A R Bhat which were found non-operational. Both the accounts were not operating and cheques were otherwise invalid. Besides no authorization certificates from the original manufacturer were attached with these two tender which was a condition in the NIT. In view of these positions the tender documents were liable to be rejected but a part of conspiracy these 3 tenders belonging to one and the same party were deliberately kept in the fray only to benefit the choice tenderer. The conditions laid down in NIT were not willfully and deliberately adhered to in respect of two tenders out of the only 3 tenders in the fray. These two invalid tenders should have been out rightly rejected, since only one tender was submitted in accordance with conditions laid down in NIT, SLPC was duty bound to go for fresh tendering, which was not done for obvious reasons. Initially a supply order of 3 Lacs meter of jute matting was placed with accused firm @ Rs 55.50 per meter after negotiations even without getting approval of the minister concerned.
According to the case AK Mehta IAS then Director School Education Jammu one of the members of the purchase committee did not attend the two meetings, however, while perusing the minutes of the meeting it was found that he had raised genuine and pertinent observations and recommended that prior to the process of purchase a certificate from approved dealer shall be taken to the effect that the rates negotiated are the lowest in any case. However these observations were termed as irrelevant by Janak Singh. It was further submitted in the challan that Mr. Ghulam Rasool Vakil as agent of Ajit Kumar has by getting inducted himself as a partner of the supplier firm by using the official position of Ajit Kumar, earned a profit of more than Rs 12 lacs out of the said deal. He entered into conspiracy with Ajit Kumar thereby asking him to exert pressure on accused No 4 to make him a partner in the said deal and accused in doing so thereby drawn undue profit Rs 12 lacs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
