CBI seeks nod to sue BHEL officials

NEW DELHI, May 24: The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has sought sanction to chargesheet seven top executives of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited BHEL for frauds in the import of equipment from Germany causing losses of more than Rs 50 crore.

After investigations lasting two and a half years, the CBI moved this month to prosecute the officers who include chairman and former chief managing director P S Gupta, former executive director R N Mahendru and general manager finance Dhirendra Krishna.

CBI sources said the letter seeking sanction, now considered a mere formality in the light of a recent Supreme Court order permiting to prosecute PSU officials without prior sanction, was forwarded to the ministry concerned a fortnight ago.

While Gupta retired several years ago, Mahendru was sacked by the public sector unit last year.