Published On : Fri, Dec 17th, 2021

More skeletons tumble out: NMC’s bogus contracts scam gets wider

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90 more bogus contracts of Rs 1.4 crore busted in NMC’s Health Department

Nagpur: More skeletons have started tumbling out of NMC’s closets. Following the exposure of a stationery scam worth Rs 67 lakh, investigations have revealed that the list of bogus contracts in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is getting longer. On Thursday, 90 more bogus contracts worth Rs 1.4 crore related to the private contractor of the Health Department, who was earlier found to have prepared 41 bogus contracts, were unearthed. Suspicious transactions worth around Rs 90 lakh were also detected in the Solid Waste Management Department.

Now, the total worth of the scam has swelled to Rs 3.47 crore and the possibility of the amount may increase further as the can of worms has opened. Two more NMC’s departments — Library and Birth & Death Registration Departments – have come under scanner.

According to media reports, the Additional Municipal Commissioner Ram Joshi and Assistant Commissioner (General Administration Department) Mahesh Dhamecha investigated and identified that contractor Padmakar ‘Kolba’ Sakole (55) prepared bogus contracts and drew another Rs 1.4 crore from Library and Birth & Death Registration Departments.

Already, the civic body has registered a complaint with Sadar Police Station against five firms registered in the name of Sakode and his family members. In the FIR, NMC has named four suppliers — Padmakar alias Kolba Sakole (55), Sushma Sakole (50), both residents of Preeti Housing Society, Jaiparakash Nagar; Manohar Sakole (70), a resident of Dakshinamurthy Square, Mahal, and Atul Sakole (40), a resident of New Nandanvan. The five firms are Sudarshan Paper Converting, Manohar Sakode and Brothers, Swastik Trade Link, Gurukripa Stationers and Printers, and S K Enterprises.

Sadar police have registered a case under Sections 420, 465, 468, 471 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigations are on.

Show cause notices were issued to Chief Audit and Finance Officer (CAFO) Vijay Kolhe and Assistant Commissioner, GAD, Mahesh Dhamecha. Two other staffers, including Mohan Padwanshi, senior clerk, GAD, and Ashfaque Ahmed and S Y Nagdive, both Internal Auditors, have been placed under suspension.

Joshi and Dhamecha reportedly asked Sakole to repay the amount. Sakode gave two cheques of Rs 52 lakh and Rs 50 lakh on Thursday and expressed inability to pay more, reports said.

The media reports further said that Sakode has reportedly prepared bogus contracts from Library and Birth & Death Registration Departments in the name of sixth firm — Shree Ganesh Sai Services. Owner is a separate person but Sakole is reportedly operating the agency.

Initially, Sakole had repaid Rs 67,08,630, pertaining to 41 bogus contracts. These contracts were awarded and payments disbursed between October 7, 2020, and July 31 this year. In the 90 more bogus contracts in the Health Department, some files are from April 2020 onwards.

The NMC has started investigation into contracts below Rs 3 lakh awarded from April 1, 2020, to till date. Chances of similar irregularities happening before April 1, 2020, cannot be ruled out.

NMC officials also said suspicious payments of Rs 90 lakh came to fore from the Solid Waste Management Department. Scrutiny is going on. Verification of provision of funds and payment disbursed is pending for some major departments like Public Works Department (PWD), Education Department etc.

According to the media reports, a six-member committee headed by Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kumar Meena has started investigation into all contracts awarded from April 1, 2020, to till date. Contracts below Rs 3 lakh are given through quotation or fixed rate contracts. The committee is also likely to investigate contracts above Rs 3 lakh which requires tendering.

BJP Corporator Vijay Zalke in a press conference alleged involvement of higher officials in the scam. “Detailed inquiry should be done in all expenditures done in the name of Covid-19 pandemic. The NMC isn’t aware of the whereabouts of materials purchased for Covid care centre which never started operation on Katol road,” he said.