Delhi: Ex-PWD officer, private firm owners arrested over irregularities in govt hospitals
Jul 26, 2024
New Delhi [India], July 26 : The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has arrested a former chief engineer of PWD and two owners of private firms in a case related to significant irregularities and massive corruption in the execution of works at eight hospitals of the Delhi government, including LNJP, GTB, BSA and GB Pant, thus causing a loss of around Rs 200 crore to the government exchequer, an oficial release said on Friday.
According to the release, the firms and contractors claimed a huge amount of money by presenting fake/forged bills. The PWD officials passed these bills without any due diligence and paid the private firms and contractors for no work or incomplete work.
In the instant matter, ACB, GNCTD has registered a case vide FIR No. 08/2024 u/s 7/13 POC Act r/w 420/406/468/471/120-B/34 IPC against PWD officials and the private firms/contractors.
During the course of the investigation, ACB conducted a comprehensive scrutiny and analysis of various works in the Delhi government. Hospitals were awarded to different private firms and contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several large-scale irregularities, malpractices and embezzlements of government funds have been found on the part of concerned PWD officials, hand-in-glove with these private firms/contractors.
At the outset, major discrepancies have been listed which include Anil Kumar Ahuja, Retd. ADG/PWD, (the then Chief Engineer/Health) gave approval to 56 Works subsequently awarded to 10 alleged firms during COVID-19 without differentiating between Emergent and Urgent Work. Desired certificates to this effect were found missing from the concerned files.
A comprehensive investigation in this case is underway to unearth the whole conspiracy and fix the role and culpability of all involved government officials, private firms and contractors. A proposal to obtain previous approval under section 17-A of the POC act to investigate against remaining erring PWD officials has been forwarded to the competent authority.
More details into the matter are awaited.
