Vigilance Bureau to probe IAS officers in Faridabad MC scam

Geetanjali Gayatri

Chandigarh, July 15

The Haryana Vigilance Bureau will now be able to summon IAS officers posted as Commissioners of Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, (MCF) in connection with the investigation into a multi-crore scam spread over three years.

Pegged at Rs 200cr

• Scam pegged at Rs 200 cr, but the Vigilance currently looking at projects worth Rs 25 cr
• It’s alleged that the projects’ value was enhanced, which increased their cost manifold
• Fake bills allegedly generated and there was ‘unholy nexus’ between officials, contractors

Sources said that the Chief Secretary’s office has granted “general permission” to the state Vigilance Bureau (SVB) allowing it to investigate the role of the Commissioners posted at the MCF between 2017 and 2020. With this permission, the SVB will now step up investigation into the matter. Last month, the SVB had sought permission of the Haryana Government for investigating the role of two IAS officers in the scam. The SVB had sought permission under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, and is presently focused on ascertaining the veracity of bills worth around Rs 25 crore for the period from 2017 to 2020 for which payments have been released.

According to information, the two officers against whom permission was sought had given their representation to Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal separately and alleged that the SVB was “being selective” in seeking permission and that it had not gone through the entire record and papers.

In response, instead of giving specific permission, the CS office has given a general permission in the matter.

Sources stated that the scam involved generation of fake bills worth crores for the same work done many times over and the release of payment thereof. In 2021, the SVB was handed over a bunch of complaints pertaining to the release of payments to contractors against development works in MCF wards. However, the councillors had alleged that the works had not been carried out on the ground.

Maintaining that the scam was a consequence of an alleged official-contractor nexus, it was claimed that fake entries had been generated and payments were released without on-the-spot inspections. Further, the cost of the projects was enhanced manifold. Also, the projects with a worth of Rs 5 lakh were never executed and it was alleged that some Commissioners had exceeded their fund-sanctioning power as well.

Seeking action against the guilty, Congress MLA from Faridabad, Neeraj Sharma, during the budget session, said the scam was pegged at Rs 200 crore and the role of every officer who had served as Commissioner in that period should be investigated.