STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu has registered an FIR against one Raman Uppal, son of M R Uppal, resident of 339 Shastri-Nagar Jammu, the then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies, Division-II, Jammu and Atul Mahajan, son of Chander Mohan, resident of Kishtwar, Prop Suvani Construction for alleged favouritism and abusing official position and providing undue benefits in allotment of work to beneficiary, in violation to norms and conditions.
According to FIR, a verification was conducted by ACB on a written complaint lodged by one Aftab Hussain alleging therein to have filed tender documents along with two other contractors (under self-help group) in Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu for ‘Construction of Lane/ drain from Main Road to House of Om Parkash Sharma (Shakti Studio) W. No. 09 Kishtwar’, under NIT No. 65-LBJ (II) of 2016. He further alleged that bids were opened in absence of him and other contractors and rates stand changed after opening of bids, thereby allotting the work to Suvani Construction of approximately Rs 9 lakh.
The verification further revealed that balance work of ‘Lane and Drain from Shaheedi Park to House of Gh Mohd Zargar W.No. 10 Kishtwar’ for an amount of Rs 9 lakh was floated by Executive Engineer Local Bodies Div-II Jammu vide tender notice No. 65-LBJ(II) of 2016. The three bidders including Suvani Construction also participated in tendering process and after analysing of record, it was revealed that the then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu, Raman Uppal neither floated e-NIT which was in vogue at that relevant time nor constituted/formulated a committee for opening of tenders. The three firms participated in NIT and the rates quoted for other items by Sunshine Construction was 3 per cent, Nissar Construction was 19 per cent and Suvani Construction was 22 per cent but after opening of bid, Atul Mahajan, son of Chander Mohan, resident of Kishtwar; proprietor of Suvani Construction in league with then Executive Engineer Local Bodies, Division-II Jammu made cutting and insertion by changing the figure quoted for other items as 22 per cent to 2 per cent and managed to get the tender in his favour. The verification conducted further revealed that apart from aforesaid work, the allotment of work for Construction of Lane/ drain from Main Road to House of Om Parkash Sharma (Shakti Studio) W. No. 09 Kishtwar for Rs 9 lakh was also issued with same number in favour of Suvani Construction, however the work was taken up by JRJ Constructions vide allotment dated October 15, 2016 amounting to Rs 2.75 lakh, meaning thereby the allotment of work to two different contractors with same CDR amount / number but different allotted amount.
The verification further revealed about the falsification of documents like different copies of NIT No. 79 and other instances, which reflect favouritism bestowed upon Suvani Constructions by then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu who by abuse of his official position and in violation to norms and conditions has given undue benefit in the allotment of work to beneficiary. The aforementioned facts constitute commission of offences punishable under section 5 (1) (d) read with 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt 2006 and sections 467, 468, 471 & 120-B of RPC against Raman Uppal, Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu, beneficiary namely Atul Mahajan and others.