1 year, 130 counts of corruption=2/8/10

02/08/2010

1 year, 130 counts of corruption

Patna: A 412-page Vigilance Bureau investigation report, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, reveals how former Patna Municipal Commissioner K Senthil Kumar and 13 others were allegedly engaged in large-scale bungling of public money.



Senthil, along with others, illegally cleared high-rise building proposals overlooking civil aviation and fire safety norms, awarded garbage disposal contract worth about Rs 24 crore to a company having only Rs 10 lakh as its annual turnover, sat over tax dues in connivance with the local hotel lobby and land mafia, and cleared buildings in gross violation of rules. The Vigilance Bureau has so far detected 130 instances of corruption that took place during one year of Senthil Kumar's tenure.

The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) incurred losses of over Rs 8.76 crore due to these irregularities. The estimates of the quantum of loss is likely to go up as the investigators dig deeper.

A disproportionate assets (DA) case is likely to be lodged against Senthil Kumar, who also faced corruption charges during his tenure as the District Magistrate of Munger. At present, Senthil Kumar, a Chennai resident, is the Statistical Commissioner based at Patna.



Investigation were initiated only after a complaint from the Chief Minister's secretariat on February 23. Senthil, a 1996 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer, and 13 others were booked by the Vigilance Bureau on July 21 under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code for cheating, forgery, falsification of account and criminal breach of trust by a public servant.

The investigation report, on which the FIR is based, said that Senthil along with his PMC colleagues "connived with building mafia, suppliers and beneficiaries to adopt such a criminal pattern to render the PMC economic losses and cause physical, material and psychological damages to Patna people for personal gains".

The Vigilance Bureau said: "Senthil, as PMC Commissioner, was engaged in gross financial irregularities, forgery and fraud by misusing his power to collect heavy bribe money from beneficiaries".

The investigation revealed that during his tenure the fire fighting department gave NOCs to several buildings even without they asking for it. There were instances when NOCs were given where not even minimum 20 feet road was available between two apartments -- mandatory for fire tenders to reach the place.

The fire fighting department recommended construction of a water tank in the basement of an already-constructed building, despite the fact that any such attempt could harm the foundation of the structure.



Key Allegations

* Scrutiny of 130 instances related to clearance of multistorey building construction and its modification showed that Senthil and PMC committee members "worked for the benefit of building and land mafia and his own personal gains" and that led to the PMC incurring a loss of Rs 7,46,66,669. Senthil's permission to these projects compromised with basic power supply, drainage, fire safety and mandatory gap between two constructions and maximum height permitted to buildings. Worse, no permission was taken from the Civil Aviation department.

* During Senthil's tenure, the PMC charged lesser fees from six Patna-based advertising companies and as a result incurred a loss of Rs 65,73,216.

* Senthil assessed holding tax of five Patna hotels at Rs 64,41,225, but did not serve demand notice to them due to the "influence of the hotel lobby". The Vigilance Bureau questioned why holding tax of other business establishments and buildings was not assessed.

* Senthil put additional financial load on the PMC by awarding contract of Rs 21.25 crore (annual expenses) to a garbage disposal management company, a2z Infrastructure Private Limited, for five years. The PMC did not conduct any financial assessment before awarding the contract. Senthil did not get the company's agreement approved by a permanent committee and PMC Board. The Vigilance Bureau suggests that giving Rs 728 for disposal of per metric tonne garbage was a very high rate, especially for a city that produces 800-900 metric tonnes garbage per day.

* Senthil awarded contract of Rs 82.61 lakh to a Chennai-based company, Icotec, to provide two-way communication systems to the PMC. He did not bother to know about the company's turnover. "It was a mediator company that did not manufacture the product. The Vigilance Bureau is investigating if a Chennai-based company's interest during Senthil's tenure was a "coincidence or has seeds of corruption". Two of the three applicants were from Chennai. The third one was from Kolkata that had applied first but was not considered.

* Senthil allegedly put financial burden of Rs 11.24 lakh on the PMC by overlooking payment discrepancies of the employees. He also made illegal reappointments/ promotions.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Additional Director General of Police Anil Sinha said: "We have submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the court and have appointed DSP P M Mishra as the investigating officer in the case." Asked about assessment of Senthil's disproportionate assets, the ADGP said the Vigilance Bureau will not jump the gun.

The investigation report has revealed that Senthil's brother, K Ayappan, had been running Sudha Super Market, a departmental store, and Chennai Café, a restaurant, from the Harihar Complex, Patna. The Vigilance report said though papers showed Ayappan as its owner, the introducer of Ayappan's bank account was a firm that had been given financial engagements by Senthil at the PMC and earlier at Munger. "In all probability, these are Senthil's shadow investments," said a Vigilance source.

However, the Vigilance Bureau has been taking its time to arrest Senthil. Sources said it has been preparing adequate grounds to lodge a DA case against him after collecting corroborating evidence.

The Vigilance has also booked beneficiary companies, builders and land owners.

Source: Indian Express