Fatehabad Municipal Council CSI and Contractor Firm Face FIR Over Alleged Rs 17.20 Lakh Scam
In a significant development highlighting alleged financial misconduct in municipal operations, the Fatehabad City police have registered a formal case against the chief sanitary inspector (CSI) of the Fatehabad municipal council, Satpal Saini, and M/s Radha Krishna Co-operative Labour Society Limited. The FIR centers on serious irregularities in payments amounting to approximately Rs 17.20 lakh, which are claimed to blatantly violate established tender conditions.
Complaint Details and Legal Action
The case was officially filed at the Fatehabad City police station based on a detailed complaint submitted by Ankit Lohan, who serves as the executive engineer (XEN) in the urban local bodies department. According to police statements, the FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically targeting alleged financial irregularities and the misuse of government funds.
In his formal complaint, Lohan explicitly alleged that payments were released to the contractor firm in direct contradiction to the written terms and conditions outlined in the tender agreement. He further emphasized that penalties imposed on the contractor were substantially lower than those prescribed, resulting in a significant financial loss to the government exchequer while providing undue and illegal benefits to the firm.
Background of the Contract and Alleged Violations
According to the complaint documents, M/s Radha Krishna Co-operative Labour Society Limited was awarded a comprehensive five-year contract for door-to-door garbage collection across the city of Fatehabad. The tender conditions mandated that data regarding waste collection be generated through scanning devices installed outside households to ensure transparency and accountability.
However, during the initial phase of the contract, the required number of scanning devices were allegedly not installed as per specifications. The firm was said to be operating without adequate resources, thereby failing to meet the contractual obligations from the outset.
Despite these apparent shortcomings, the bill for the first 60 days of operation was reportedly passed without imposing the appropriate penalty as stipulated in the tender. Instead of deducting the prescribed amount, only a nominal penalty was levied, according to the complainant, exacerbating the financial discrepancies.
Internal Probe and Police Involvement
The matter underwent a thorough internal investigation by officials of the urban local bodies department, including senior figures such as the Swachh Bharat Mission director and the headquarters executive engineer. Following this detailed inquiry, substantial irregularities were identified and documented, leading to the submission of a formal complaint to the police for further legal action.
Police authorities have confirmed that further investigation is currently underway to uncover the full extent of the alleged misconduct and to determine all parties involved. The case underscores ongoing concerns about governance and financial integrity in municipal contracts, particularly in sectors like waste management that are critical to public health and urban cleanliness.
