New Delhi:
The CBI has registered an FIR against Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, the second largest buyer of electoral bonds worth Rs 966 crore, in an alleged bribery case.
Eight officials of the NISP and NMDC and two officials of MECON were also named in the FIR for receiving alleged bribes of around Rs 78 lakh in clearing accounts of Rs 174 crore of Megha Engineering in connection with works related to the integrated steel plant of Jagdalpur, officials said. Saturday.
Megha Engineering had emerged as the second largest buyer of electoral bonds, donating the highest amount of around Rs 586 crore to the BJP, according to the data released by the Election Commission on March 21.
The company also donated Rs 195 crore to BRS, Rs 85 crore to DMK and Rs 37 crore to YSRCP. The TDP got around Rs 25 crore from the company while the Congress got Rs 17 crore. The JD-S, Jana Sena Party and the JD-U received smaller amounts ranging from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
According to the FIR made public on Saturday, the CBI had on August 10, 2023, initiated a preliminary probe into the alleged bribery scheme worth Rs 315 crore involving works on the intake well, pump house and cross-country pipeline at the integrated steel plant Jagdalpur. awarded to the company.
Based on the findings of the preliminary investigation, a recommendation was made on March 18 to register a regular case in connection with the alleged bribery case filed on March 31.
The CBI has appointed eight officials of NISP and NMDC Ltd: retired executive director Prashant Dash, director (production) DK Mohanty, DGM PK Bhuyan, DM Naresh Babu, senior manager Subro Banerjee, retired CGM (finance) L Krishna Mohan, GM (finance ) K Rajshekhar, manager (finance) Somnath Ghosh, who allegedly received Rs 73.85 lakh in bribes.
The agency has also appointed two officers of MECON Ltd – AGM (contracts) Sanjeev Sahay and DGM (contracts) K Illavarsu – who reportedly received a payment of Rs 5.01 lakh against the payment of Rs 174.41 crore by NMDC Ltd to MEIL against 73 invoices from Subhash Chandra Sangras, Managing Director, MEIL and Megha Engineering and unknown others.
Mr Chandra and Megha Engineering have also been named as suspects in the case.
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