HYDERABAD: Central Bureau Investigation Vishakapatnam unit has booked a case against the official of Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) for Rs 50 crore fraud.
The Central Bureau of Investigation booked the case of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct based on the complaint filed by Arnab Kumar Dasgupta the joint general manager(legal) of DCI.
CBI booked Durga Prasad Babu, chief project manager, DCI, Visakhapatnam, Van Oord India Private Limited and few others.
The accused was allegedly involved in corrupt activities to get windfall gain and unjust enrichment of public exchequer in connection with awarding the tender for chartering of dredgers in Mumbai Harbour Channel and JN Port channel at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Mumbai for the year 2020-21.
The complainant alleged that DCI invited tender for dredging at Mumbai Harbour Channel and JN Port Channel to dump the given quantity of material at designated dumping ground and achieve design depth in the navigational channel. Payments were made based on the quantities dredged and dumped at a designated location.
Three works were issued to the lowest bidder, VOIPL. Rs 71crore worth order was issued in August 2020, Rs 28 crore in September 2020 and Rs 45 crore in January 2021 with a total contract value of Rs 145 crore.
VOIPL submitted charts and volume computation for pre-dredging survey. However, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust rejected it, stating it as unrealistic and exorbitant rates. It was found that VOIPL inflated quantities against the standards. Independent reconfirmation survey by IIT Chennai found that quantities are inflated.
VOIPL failed to establish on what basis they claim additional disputed quantity. Durga Prasad colluded with VOIPL to commit the fraud and issued certificates allegedly stating that the contract work was completed to the satisfaction of DCI.
