Jharsuguda: Six years ago, the Vigilance department had started an investigation into alleged irregularities in the purchase of LED lights in Belpahad NAC of Jharsuguda district.
After a long hiatus, the Vigilance has again intensified its investigation to take to the probe its logical end. According to reports, LED lights were purchased by the civic body authorities for illuminating the streets in Belpahad town in 2015.
The Vigilance had received complaints from public about huge irregularities in the LED purchase. Then, the anti-corruption agency had raided the house of clerk Ashok Sahu, apart from interrogating the civic body chairperson, the executive officer and staff of the civic body in this connection.
Some documents relating to the purchase of lights had been seized. Thereafter, the case was stuck for years. Again the vigilance officials have restarted the investigation following a directive from Rourkela Vigilance SP Subash Swain.
Jharsuguda Vigilance inspector Pradip Kumar has interrogated clerk Ashok Sahu and some linesmen. The investigating officer also interrogated Sachidananada Mishra, owner of Bhubaneswar-based Techmake, which has supplied LED lights to the civic body Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Vigilance had issued notices to two formers civic body chairpersons and an executive officer to depose at the Vigilance office. It may be noted here that the civic body had purchased LED lights without floating a tender.
It was learnt that the retail price of each LED light was Rs 10,404 while its price was inflated four times – Rs 44,151 per piece.
PNN
