Centre repatriates former NHAI member for scam
Praveen Kumar Singh Posted: Saturday, Dec 04, 2010
New Delhi: The government has repatriated SI Patel, ex-member (projects) at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)—the body that awards national highway development projects in the country—to his parent state Gujarat. The repatriation is effective from December 1, 2010.
The move comes at a time when Patel’s alleged involvement in a ‘multi-crore scam’ in NHAI award of projects is under scrutiny. NHAI had awarded a project worth Rs 10,800 crore in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to Oriental Structural Engineers after eliminating 12 potential contenders on “frivolous grounds” of not submitting proper documents.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—which is investigating the case—is keen to probe into the alleged role of Patel, an engineer, in the scam. Road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath has rejected CBI’s application to inquire Patel in relation to the scam. Incidentally, CBI had requested cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar for Patel’s transfer after Nath refused to the bureau’s demand for an inquiry.
As per the office order dated December 1, the government took the approval of President Pratibha Devsingh Patil to repatriate Patel after giving him three-month earned leave.
NHAI officials told FE that the repatriation is on Patel’s request to enable him take care of his ailing mother. “He was asking for a long leave since a long time but were unable to allow him to go due to work pressure. This time we had to accede to his demand as he had to take care of his ailing mother in Gujarat. In the meantime, we have distributed his work among ourselves,” a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.
Ministry’s joint secretary SK Dash, who signed on the official order on the repatriation and leave, refused to comment. “Don't ask me why he has been repatriated,” he said. CBI spokesperson RK Gaur did not take calls.
The scam involves two of Patel’s juniors—NHAI chief general manager SK Nirmal and general manager Nitin Jain. In May this year, CBI had raided NHAI office in Delhi and houses of the two, recovering more than Rs 2 crore along with gold and silver worth lakhs.
Later it arrested the two NHAI officials and some senior officials of Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited. Regardless of the scam, NHAI signed the concessional agreement with the same company in August.
Praveen Kumar Singh Posted: Saturday, Dec 04, 2010
New Delhi: The government has repatriated SI Patel, ex-member (projects) at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)—the body that awards national highway development projects in the country—to his parent state Gujarat. The repatriation is effective from December 1, 2010.
The move comes at a time when Patel’s alleged involvement in a ‘multi-crore scam’ in NHAI award of projects is under scrutiny. NHAI had awarded a project worth Rs 10,800 crore in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to Oriental Structural Engineers after eliminating 12 potential contenders on “frivolous grounds” of not submitting proper documents.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—which is investigating the case—is keen to probe into the alleged role of Patel, an engineer, in the scam. Road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath has rejected CBI’s application to inquire Patel in relation to the scam. Incidentally, CBI had requested cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar for Patel’s transfer after Nath refused to the bureau’s demand for an inquiry.
As per the office order dated December 1, the government took the approval of President Pratibha Devsingh Patil to repatriate Patel after giving him three-month earned leave.
NHAI officials told FE that the repatriation is on Patel’s request to enable him take care of his ailing mother. “He was asking for a long leave since a long time but were unable to allow him to go due to work pressure. This time we had to accede to his demand as he had to take care of his ailing mother in Gujarat. In the meantime, we have distributed his work among ourselves,” a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.
Ministry’s joint secretary SK Dash, who signed on the official order on the repatriation and leave, refused to comment. “Don't ask me why he has been repatriated,” he said. CBI spokesperson RK Gaur did not take calls.
The scam involves two of Patel’s juniors—NHAI chief general manager SK Nirmal and general manager Nitin Jain. In May this year, CBI had raided NHAI office in Delhi and houses of the two, recovering more than Rs 2 crore along with gold and silver worth lakhs.
Later it arrested the two NHAI officials and some senior officials of Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited. Regardless of the scam, NHAI signed the concessional agreement with the same company in August.
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