Even before the dust over the multi-crore fake bill scam has settled, another suspected scam has been detected in Dasarahalli division of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
According to highly placed sources, the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) registered a suo motu case in this regard during the third week of November and has begun investigation. The case has been registered under section 218 of the Indian Penal Code. The scam was detected based on the audit report of 2008-09 and the investigation is already under way. This even as the investigations into the multi-crore fake bill scam are picking up steam with the Government entrusting the probe to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Similar scam
A source said that this scam is similar to the one detected in the Malleswaram, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Gandhinagar divisions. “It was detected when the investigation of the multi-crore scam was under way. Then, it was of lesser priority. After the investigation of the scam in three divisions was handed over to the CID, the BMTF has taken up this investigation.”
False entries
Though investigation is still in the preliminary stage, the scam was detected as the audit report pointed to false entries and incorrect records of works executed in the Dasarahalli division. Since a Government Order dated August 28, 1997, empowers the BMTF to take up suo motu investigations, the task force can take up similar probes in the other divisions of the BBMP. However, it remains to be seen if this scam will also be handed over to the CID or if the BMTF will take up investigation in the other 24 divisions.
It may be recalled that the Technical Vigilance Committee under Commissioner (TVCC) had detected a multi-crore scam in the execution of works worth Rs. 1,539 crore in the Malleswaram, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Gandhinagar divisions from 2008-09 to 2010-11. There was much debate when the BBMP filed a case with the BMTF.
After opposition by city MLAs and councillors, the investigation was handed over to the CID by the Government recently.
