CBI books VK Singh’s aide in graft case

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed an FIR against unknown officials of cabinet secretariat, Special Frontier Forces of country’s external intelligence agency R&AW, and a company allegedly belonging to Shambhu Prasad Singh, who is said to be a close aide and political attaché of former army chief and union minister General VK Singh (retd).
The allegations are that of irregularities in tender conditions, procurement through cartelization of firms for supply and installation of pre-fabricated shelters for SFF troops during the period 2009-13 purchased from a Delhi-based company, Sai Baba Builders and Consultants. SFF, a covert unit, comes directly under cabinet secretariat. It was formed after the 1962 Indo-China war to carry out specialized operations for R&AW.
CBI is likely to question some big names from cabinet secretariat who held office during UPA 2.
TOI first reported on Tuesday that the company belonging to the tainted former defence contractor, who is close to union minister V K Singh, would be booked by the CBI.
Agency says the tenders worth Rs 21.6 crore (approx) were given to the company in two phases, 2009-2011 and 2010-2014. “There was regular supply of high-altitude pre-fabricated tents and we are probing the period from 2009. The tenders were tailor-made to suit the company,” said an officer.
Those named in the FIR include Sai Baba Builders and Consultants and its three directors Shyam Sunder Bhatter, J P N Singh and Manjari, who is the wife of S P Singh and unknown officers of cabinet secretariat and SFF. The accused persons have been booked for cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and Prevention of Corruption Act. CBI raided four places in Delhi and Kolkata and recovered incriminating documents.
The other two companies on which same people are directors are Rockside Impex Pvt Ltd and Dynamic Shells Ltd. Sources say S P Singh works for both the companies.
Sources say three companies belonging to same directors, one including S P Singh’s wife Manjari – applied for the contracts in two phases in cabinet secretariat so that one of them would get it. “It was like single tendering for the same firm. Sai Baba Builders and Consultants, which has been named in the FIR, submitted forged documents which were not checked by the secretariat and no bank guarantee was given for availing the contract. It was clearly favouring the company. Three companies belonging to same person (s) applied, one got it,” said CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad.
Agency says they are investigating quid pro quo as the company was clearly favoured. The agency began probe in the matter earlier this month after receiving a reference from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office. The R&AW had conducted an initial enquiry and found irregularities.
Sources say even though S P Singh has not been named in the FIR yet, his role is being probed as his name appears as the main contact person for all three companies in the registrar of companies.
Repeated attempts to reach S P Singh went in vain. S P Singh didn’t take calls. He had told TOI on Tuesday that “I have done nothing wrong and I will bring out the truth about those who are conspiring against me”.