Anti-corruption Bureau Jammu registers a case against Raman Uppal, Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies, Division-II, Jammu and Atual Mahajan Prop. Suvani Construction for favouritism bestowed upon Suvani Constructions by then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu who by abuse their official position and in violation of norms and conditions has given undue benefit in the allotment of work to the beneficiary.
According to the FIR, a verification was conducted by this Bureau on a written complaint lodged by Aftab Hussain alleging therein to have filed the tender documents along with two other contractors (under self-help group) in Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu for the work “Construction of Lane/ drain from Main Road to House of Om Parkash Sharma (Shakti Studio) W. No. 09 Kishtwar”, NIT No. 65-LBJ(II) of 2016. However, the bids were opened in their absence, the rates stand changed after opening of bids and the work was allotted to Suvani Construction by favouring and allotment of work to 09 Lakhs etc.
The verification conducted revealed that the balance work of “Lane and Drain from Shaheedi Park to H/o Gh. Mohd Zargar W.No. 10 Kishtwar” for an amount of Rs 9.00 lakhs was floated by Executive Engineer Local Bodies Div-II Jammu vide tender notice No. 65-LBJ(II) of 2016 dated 07.11.2016. The three bidders, including M/s Suvani Construction, have participated in the tendering process. However, after analysing of record, the below mentioned revelations came to the fore that the then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu, namely Raman Uppal, neither floated e-NIT, which was in vogue at that relevant time, nor did he constitute/formulated a committee for the opening of the tender.
The three firms participated in said NIT, and the rates quoted for other items by Sunshine Construction was 3%, Nissar Construction was 19%, and Suvani Construction was 22%, but after opening the bid, Atul Mahajan S/O Chander Mohan R/O 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% to 2% and managed to get the tender for the work in his favour. As per clause 6 of NIT, the rate should be quoted in figures and words without any overwriting and mutilation, and any tender received in contravention to this clause should have been rejected. However, there was cutting and overwriting on the tender form filled by Suvani Construction.
The rate quoted was not written in words that should have been outrightly rejected by then Executive Engineer Raman Uppal. But the allotment of work was issued to Suvani Construction on 03.01.2017. However, no document was found regarding the authenticity of a copy of NIT No. 79-LBJ dated 07.01.2013 for the work “Construction of Lane Drain Shaheedi Park to House of Ghulam Mohd Zargar” in the first phase, which was allotted for Rs. 4,95,000/- vide allotment No. Lb/lech/ J II/2013/5968-71 dated 23.02.2013. Instead, the department has produced three different copies of the same NIT No. 79-LB] dated 07.01.2013 with the same number and date, which are contradictory and seems to be forged. The excess payment of Rs 2.35 lakhs has been made over the allotted amount of Rs. 6.65 lakhs in violation of codal formalities however, the work has been executed against this payment.
The verification conducted further revealed that apart from above said work, the allotment for the work “Construction of Lane/ drain from Main Road to House of Om Parkash Sharma (Shakti Studio) W. No. 09 Kishtwar” for Rs 09 lakhs was issued with the same number and date, i.e. of 03.01.2017 in favour of Suvani Construction, however, JRJ Constructions took up the work vide allotment dated 15.10.2016 amounting Rs. 2.75 lakhs, meaning the allotment of work to two different contractors with the same CDR amount/number but different allotted amounts.
The verification conducted further revealed the falsification of documents like different copies of NIT No. 79 and other instances, thus reflecting favouritism bestowed upon M/S Suvani Constructions by then Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Div-II Jammu who by abuse of their official position and in violation to norms and conditions has given undue benefit in the allotment of work to the beneficiary.
