CBI files FIR against second-biggest electoral bond buyer over bribing govt body

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged legal action against Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd over allegations of bribery. According to reports, the company, which was the second-largest purchaser of electoral bonds amounting to Rs 966 crore, is under scrutiny.

The FIR filed by the CBI also names eight officials from the National Industrial Security Project (NISP) and the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), along with two officials from MECON, for allegedly accepting bribes totaling around Rs 78 lakh.

These bribes were purportedly given to expedite the clearance of bills amounting to Rs 174 crore related to Megha Engineering's involvement in projects associated with the Jagdalpur integrated steel plant.

Megha Engineering's significant contributions to political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have attracted attention. According to data released by the Election Commission on March 21, the company donated approximately Rs 586 crore to the BJP, making it the highest donor.

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Additionally, Megha Engineering contributed Rs 195 crore to the BRS, Rs 85 crore to the DMK, and Rs 37 crore to the YSRCP. Other recipients included the TDP, Congress, JD-S, Jana Sena Party, and JD-U, receiving varying amounts ranging from Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore.

According to the FIR made public on Saturday, the CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry on August 10, 2023 about the alleged bribery in Rs 315 crore project related to works of intake well and pump house and cross-country pipeline at the integrated steel plant Jagdalpur which was awarded to the company.

Based on the findings of the preliminary enquiry, a recommendation was made on March 18 to register a regular case into the alleged bribery which was filed on March 31.

The CBI has named eight officials of NISP and NMDC Ltd -- retired executive director Prashant Dash, director (production) DK Mohanty, DGM PK Bhuyan, DM Naresh Babu, senior manager Subro Banerjee, retired CGM (finance) L Krishna Mohan, GM (finance) K Rajshekhar, manager (finance) Somnath Ghosh, who allegedly received Rs 73.85 lakh bribe.

The agency has also named two officials of MECON Ltd - AGM (contracts) Sanjeev Sahay and DGM (contracts) K Illavarsu - who allegedly received payment of Rs 5.01 lakh against the payment of Rs 174.41 crore by NMDC Ltd to MEIL against 73 invoices from Subhash Chandra Sangras, general manager, MEIL and Megha Engineering and unknown others.

Chandra and Megha Engineering have also been named as accused in the case.

With inputs from PTI