- By Vivek Raj
- Sat, 13 Apr 2024 06:10 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) in an alleged corruption scandal involving a Rs 315 crore project for the National Iron and Steel Plant (NISP). Alongside Megha Engineering, eight officials from the NISP and NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation) as well as two officials from MECON have been named in the FIR for their alleged involvement in receiving bribes.
According to officials, the FIR alleges that Megha Engineering paid approximately Rs 78 lakh in bribes to secure clearance for bills totaling Rs 174 crore related to works at the Jagdalpur integrated steel plant. Among the accused are retired executive director Prashant Dash, director (production) DK Mohanty, and other officials from NISP and NMDC who allegedly received bribes.
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The investigation follows a preliminary inquiry launched by the CBI on August 10, 2023, regarding alleged bribery in a Rs 315 crore project related to the Jagdalpur integrated steel plant. Based on the inquiry's findings, a recommendation was made to register a regular case, leading to the filing of the FIR on March 31.
Megha Engineering, which emerged as the second-largest buyer of electoral bonds, donated significant sums to various political parties, including Rs 586 crore to the BJP, Rs 195 crore to BRS, Rs 85 crore to DMK, and Rs 37 crore to YSRCP. The company also contributed to TDP, Congress, JD-S, Jana Sena Party, and JD-U.
The CBI has named 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 ₹ 73.85 lakh bribe.
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The agency has also named two officials of MECON Ltd - AGM (contracts) Sanjeev Sahay and DGM (contracts) K Illavarsu - who allegedly received payment of ₹ 5.01 lakh against the payment of ₹ 174.41 crore by NMDC Ltd to MEIL against 73 invoices from Subhash Chandra Sangras, general manager, MEIL and Megha Engineering and unknown others.
(With agency inputs)
