MC OSD, Selvel director caught in audio tape fixing bribe

CHANDIGARH: An Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Municipal Corporation has allegedly been caught in an audio sting while advising the director of a private company on how to escape paying a Rs 26-crore penalty to the civic body, including offering bribe to senior officials.

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 16

An Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Municipal Corporation has allegedly been caught in an audio sting while advising the director of a private company on how to escape paying a Rs 26-crore penalty to the civic body, including offering bribe to senior officials.

In the recording done by an unidentified person, a copy of which is in the possession of The Tribune, OSD Surender Kumar Sharma is purportedly heard telling Selvel Media director Bishwadeep Dutta, an accused in a CBI case pertaining to a tender, to be prepared to pay around Rs 25 lakh to senior officers. The voice is also heard saying that if MC Commissioner KK Yadav is with Dutta, then all can be waived.

Dutta is required to pay arrears and penalty amounting to Rs 26 crore on account of unpaid fee for advertisements his company displayed on toilets set up by it. The matter is also in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The OSD is purportedly also heard suggesting to Dutta to go in for arbitration in court. He says: “Finance Secretary ko appeal daalni hai under Section 39, Chandigarh Advertisement Control Order, 1954. Usme jitna bhi amount banega, usme 5 per cent penalty lag jaeygi. Iske ilava (Rs) 10-20 lakh officer ko upar se de kar chhutkara ho toh karva lo. Appeal mein Saurabh Mishra ya KK Yadav ko mat bulana…. Agar mujhe puchhenge toh I will recommend.”

A complaint regarding the alleged sting, along with a CD of the audio recording, was sent to the UT Administrator in September. It also mentioned that the complaint had been sent earlier to the MC Commissioner. However, no action has been initiated yet. The Commissioner, when contacted, said he had not received the complaint.

The complaint points out that “Surender Sharma... is weakening the case. He is dealing hand officer and is favouring the accused by acting against the interest of the MC.” It demands the registration of an FIR against the OSD, and also alleges that he has the support of an MC additional commissioner and a former chief engineer.

The complaint was marked by the Administrator to the Adviser, who forwarded it to the Vigilance Secretary, BL Sharma. The office of the latter, rather than marking it to Vigilance police station, as is the practice, sent it to the Secretary, Local Government-cum-Home Secretary. The Home Secretary in turn sent it to the MC Commissioner. However, the Commissioner told Chandigarh Tribune that he was unaware of any such complaint.

BL Sharma said: “I will look into the matter. Generally, we mark complaints to the Vigilance police station, but maybe in this case, the Commissioner’s views were sought.”

"I do not remember any such conversation. And I have not heard the audio. I doubt its veracity." — Surender Sharma, OSD, MC

"The audio is concocted and meant to malign the company’s image. Why would I try to settle the matter when the case is already sub judice?" — Bishwadeep Dutta, director, Selvel Media

"There is zero tolerance to corruption. If the complaint comes to me, I will order a probe." — Davesh Moudgil, Mayor

"It is a clear case of corruption. A criminal case should be registered. Such officers should be thrown out of the MC." —Devinder Singh Babla, leader of Oppn, MC

"I have not yet received this complaint and have not heard any audio. If any wrong comes to my knowledge, I will order an inquiry." — KK Yadav, MC Commissioner