CBI books NHAI official, road contractors on graft charges

For sanctioning bills of contractors claimed without supporting documents

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against a senior official of the National Highways Authority of India and two civil contractors on charges of causing loss to the tune of ₹1.38 crore to the State exchequer.

Acting on reliable information, the agency’s Anti-Corruption Branch booked M. Muthudayar, the then Project Director/Deputy General Manager, NHAI Project Implementation Unit, Karaikudi. During 2014-17, the accused official allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with the contractor M/s KNR Constructions Ltd., that was awarded the tender work for improvement/augmentation of roads in Madurai-Ramanathapuram section of NH-49.

In the improvement/augmentation of four-lane and two-lane on certain stretches under the National Highways Development Project Phase-III, the official, knowing well that there were no supporting documents for justification to process the claim, processed and released 5% contingency fund in every bill submitted by the contractor towards shifting of electrical utilities. This resulted in excess payment and wrongful loss of about ₹76.39 lakh.