Vigilance unearths another scam in labour, transportation tenders in Ferozepur grain markets

·  Case registered against three contractors, One contractor arrested

·  Role of government officials under investigation

Chandigarh October 27 :

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has exposed another scam regarding fraud in labour cartage and transport tenders for wheat in grain markets by the contractors in conniving with concerned officers/employees of the Food and Civil Supplies department in Ferozepur. In this regard a case has been registered against three contractors/tenderers Davinder Singh of Faridkot, Daviderpal and Gurushakti, both from Talwandi Bhai, at the VB Police Station Ferozepur, for committing fraud and embezzlement causing huge loss to the State exchequer. In this case the VB has arrested contractor Davinder Singh resident of Nandeana Gate, Faridkot.

Disclosing this here today, the spokesperson of the VB said the bureau after investigating this fraud in the grain markets of Ferozepur and Mamdot, a case has been registered under FIR 24 on 27-10-2022 against the accused contractors under section 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B and section 13 (1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station VB, Ferozepur.

Giving more information in this regard, the spokesperson said during the tenders for labour cartage and transport in the above grain markets for wheat/stock articles in the current year 2022-2023, the above mentioned contractors has attached lists at the time of filling the tenders regarding the registration numbers of vehicles for transportation of goods which were verified by the VB from respective district transport authorities. It has come to light that in these lists several registration numbers of unvalid vehicles like Motor Cycles, Jeeps, Tractors etc, were attached whereas the food grains could not be transported on such vehicles, he added.

During the probe it has been established that along with the registration numbers of fake vehicles mentioned in the gate passes by the accused contractors, the details of the quantity of food grains are prima facie a case of fake reporting and embezzlement shown in these gate passes. He said the concerned officials/employees of the department had also paid to the said contractors for the work done without verifying these fake gate passes.

He further revealed that according to the above facts, the district tender allotment committee should have rejected the technical bid of the concerned contractors as per rules, which was not done. But the concerned officials/employees in connivance with each other have committed this fraud in the labour cartage and transport tenders for the transportation of food grains in these grain markets and on the basis of which this case has been registered against the above mentioned accused. The role of other government officers/employees of the department would be probed during the investigation of the case as alleged in the complaint in this regard.

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