STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The ACB (Anti Corruption Branch) of CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), Shillong, has registered a case concerning alleged irregularities committed in the Silchar Bottling Plant & Finance Shared Services Hub (FSSH), Silchar, of the IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited).
According to the FIR, "The Shillong branch of CBI received a written complaint from A.K. Malhan, CGM (Chief General Manager), Vigilance, CO, IOCL, New Delhi (vide letter number VIG/Marketing/IOAODSO/CMPL/2018/1044/217 dated 1.6.2020) against Lalngaisang Khozol, the then Senior Plant Manager/Chief Plant Manager, Silchar Bottling Plant, IOAOD, Ramesh Chandra Sardar, the then Assistant Manager (Finance), Silchar FSSH and unknown public servants.
"It has been alleged that various irregularities committed at the Silchar Bottling Plant (BP) & FSSH, Silchar, of the IOCL were observed during the inquiry conducted by the IOCL management for the period from 1.4.2017 to 30.9.2019 in respect of work viz., earth cutting & earth filling, grass cutting, dismantling of work, repairing & maintenance etc."
The major allegations as mentioned in the complaint are as follows:
1. 233 numbers of payment documents with financial implications of Rs 166.70 lakhs were found missing at the Silchar FSSH pertaining to Silchar BP.
2. Supply bills were cleared without material entry at Silchar BP.
3. Both liability creation and pre-approval were done by the officials of Silchar BP in violation of the laid down guidelines.
4. Finance officers of Silchar FSSH themselves generated liability documents which is not as per the guidelines.
5. Bills of the same amount i.e. multiple invoices with common values were created.
6. Materials supplied to Silchar BP by various contractors were not specified in the documents concerned.
7. The values of each work were kept less than Rs 25,000 to keep them within their DOA (Delegation of Authorities).
8. Most of the works were given to only one contractor, namely M/s Abdul Haque Laskar.
9. The touring officers, instead of raising the bill of the company -- a system of bills raised by the contractor M/s Abdul Haque Laskar -- was in practice in Silchar BP.
The FIR added, "The aforesaid allegations were duly verified during the preliminary inquiry conducted by the ACB of CBI, Shillong.
"In view of the above offences punishable under Section 120-B,420,468,471 of IPC and Section 13 (2) r/w 13 (1)(d) of PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act-1988 and Section 7 of PC (Amendment) Act- 2018 have clearly been made out against Lalngaisang Khozol, the then Senior Plant Manager/Chief Plant Manager, Silchar BP; Ramesh Chandra Sardar, the then Assistant Manager (Finance), Silchar FSSH; Amitava Chakraborty -- the then Finance Officer of Silchar FSSH; Abdul Haque Laskar of M/s Abdul Haque Laskar; and unknown public servants as well as others.
"Accordingly, a regular case (RC0202021A0004) is registered."
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