Sanitation scam: 12 Panipat MC officials, two contractors booked

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has booked 14 individuals, including 12 officials of the Panipat Municipal Corporation (MC) and two contractors, in connection with a multi-crore sanitation contract scam. The FIR, lodged at the ACB police station in Karnal, follows an investigation that uncovered serious financial irregularities and collusion between officials and private sanitation firms, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 15 crore to the state exchequer.

Key findings from ACB report

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- Contracts worth Rs 3.55 crore/month awarded in May 2022

- Over 400 sanitation staff missing from duty

- Inflated bills led to Rs 15.84-crore loss

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- Conflicting documentation in tender process

Despite the expiration of their contracts in May 2024, the same two firms — IND Sanitation Solutions Pvt Ltd and Pooja Consultation Company —continued to operate for a year without fresh tendering. This extension violated standard procedures, even though the MC had invited tenders.

An ACB official said, “The contract extensions, done without proper process, were a clear abuse of power and resulted in unjustified payments. Payments were made despite clear evidence of manpower shortfalls and other contract violations.”

The FIR has named Rajkumar Hooda (Pooja Consultation), Sandeep Khatri (IND Sanitation), and 12 MC officials, including then Deputy Municipal Commissioner Jitender Kumar, Executive Engineer Pradeep Kalyan, Chief Accounts Officer Dinesh, JE Ajay Chhokker and chief sanitary inspectors Rinku and Jitender. They have been charged under IPC Sections 120-B, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and Sections 13(1)(a), 13(1)(b), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The contracts, awarded in May 2022, split the city into four zones worth Rs 3.55 crore monthly. IND Sanitation handled Zones 1 and 2 for Rs 88.70 lakh and Rs 94.90 lakh per month respectively, while Pooja Consultation managed Zones 3 and 4 for Rs 84.36 lakh and Rs 82.36 lakh monthly.

The ACB’s report found several anomalies: the pre-bid meeting for the contracts was marked by conflicting documentation — signatures were dated April 19, though the meeting supposedly happened on April 18. Records alternately claimed no participation and two firms attending the meeting.

Further, the contract required 1,259 workers, but audits showed a shortfall of 412. Yet, full payments were processed based on inflated staff counts, causing a monthly loss of around Rs 66 lakh — accumulating to nearly Rs 15.84 crore over two years.

The Chief Minister’s Flying Squad and State Vigilance Bureau had earlier raided the MCs of Panipat and Sonepat in September 2022. Following those raids, records were seized and reviewed, culminating in this FIR.