Faridabad MC Scam: Haryana Vigilance Bureau seeks nod to probe 2 IAS officers

Tribune News Service

Geetanjali Gayatri

Chandigarh, June 27

The State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) has sought permission of the Haryana Government for proceeding against two IAS officers in connection with a multi-crore scam in the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF).

Sources in the government confirmed that an SVB request for permission to look into the role of two officers, who headed the MCF as commissioners, was received around 15 days ago. The permission has been sought under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018. The SVB has been specifically asked to look into bills worth around Rs 25 crore for the period from 2017 to 2020. Four arrests have been made in the case so far.

Sources in Faridabad said the scam involved generation of fake bills worth crores and the release of payment thereof. In 2021, the SVB was asked to investigate complaints that payments were released to contractors against developmental works in MCF wards although the councillors claimed there was nothing on ground. It was alleged that officials were hand in glove with contractors when it came to generating fake entries and payments were released without carrying out on-the-spot inspections. Faridabad MLA Neeraj Sharma raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha during the Budget session earlier this month.

He said, “This is a scam involving development works worth Rs 200 crore. Since projects involving less than Rs 5 lakh do not require many permissions, these works were done only on paper while there was nothing on ground. In other cases, bills were raised and payments made under the garb of enhancement of project cost.”

4 arrests already

• The State Vigilance Bureau has been asked to look into bills worth around Rs 25 crore pertaining to 2017-20
• Four arrests have already been made in the case

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