The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked a lieutenant colonel of the Indian Army, posted in Andaman and Nicobar, and 5 others for alleged corruption in procurement of ration for the armed forces. The officer has been recognized as Lt Col Abhishek Chandra.
“Credible source information has been received that Lt Col Abhishek Chandra, the then SSO (Contract & Victualling), CLOGO Section, HQs Andaman & Nicobar Command, Delanipur, Haddo, Port Blair, during the year 2018, has demanded and accepted bribes frequently from the different private suppliers in connivance with field officers posted in Base Victualling Yard, Andaman and Nicobar Command, Minnie Bay, Port Blair…in the matter of procurement of ration and other items for the department and its canteen store,” the CBI FIR mentioned.
The FIR has named two suppliers, Rochak Agro Food Products primarily based in Kolkata, and one other represented by a Muthu, as having paid bribes to the officer. Apart from Chandra and Muthu, the FIR has named Rochak representatives Ghanshyam Choudhary, Shubham Choudhary and Dayal Chandra Das, and one other Armyman, Routh, as accused.
According to the CBI, in 2018, Chandra entered right into a legal conspiracy with Shubham and Das to increase favours for bribes. Using his official place, Chandra allegedly ensured that the contract for provide of meals objects, together with spices, to Base Victualling Yard, Minnie Bay, Port Blair, with no worth negotiation committee was awarded to Rochak Agro Food Products for a yr. He allegedly prolonged the favour in return of a financial institution assure of the corporate, deposited for a earlier contract with Base Victualling Yard, Port Blair.
According to the CBI, Chandra additionally prolonged favours to Das by permitting him to signal an settlement on behalf of Rochak Agro Food Products after the tender was awarded to the corporate.
The company has alleged that Chandra had demanded and agreed to just accept a bribe of Rs 75,000 from Subham for this. In March 2018, Chandra allegedly instructed Shubham to ship the bribe within the type of two cheques or within the type of two Tanishq present vouchers.
But as Shubham couldn’t organize present cheques or vouchers, Chandra directed him in April 2018 to deposit the bribe quantity in two components, in two separate accounts, the CBI has mentioned within the FIR. Accordingly, Shubham transferred Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 within the two accounts on April 24, 2018 by NEFT from a Rochak Agro Food Products checking account maintained with State Bank of India, the CBI added.
According to the FIR, Shubham labored “under close guidance” of his father Ghanshyam, who was “the final authority in all the decision making of the company”. According to the CBI, Shubham, appearing on Chandra’s recommendation, directed Das to barter with the officers posted in BV Yard in order that they didn’t elevate objections concerning late arrival of consignments or discrepancy in supplies provided.
Accordingly, in March 2018, Routh, who was posted in BV Yard, allegedly agreed to just accept a bribe of Rs 10,000 for not elevating any objection concerning provides from Rochak Agro Food Products. This quantity was paid on April 19 that yr at Routh’s workplace, CBI has mentioned.
According to the CBI, Chandra additionally demanded Rs 3 lakh from Muthu, the consultant of one other provider. Accordingly, on June 6, 2018, Muthu allegedly tried to handover Rs 1 lakh as first instalment by assembly him close to Chennai Medical at Port Blair. But after Chandra refused to take lower than Rs 3 lakh, Muthu used his ATM card and gave Rs 2.5 lakh to Chandra on the identical day, the CBI FIR has mentioned.
