NFL officials charge-sheeted

NEW DELHI, June 9: The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed a charge-sheet against 12 National Fertilizers Limited NFL official...

NEW DELHI, June 9: The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed a charge-sheet against 12 National Fertilizers Limited NFL officials in a Rs 4 crore cheating case.

The charge-sheet filed in the court of Special CBI Judge Ajit Bharihoke is also against the proprietor of Rajasthan Fertilizers Trading Corporation RFTC Radhey Shyam Sharma.

The CBI has asked for the prosecution of only Additional Manager Anil Kumar Sharma, Assistant Area Manager Eklavya Verma and Assistant Accounts Officer Subhash Chander, as the other NFL officials have now retired.

According to the charge-sheet, during the period 1983-94, the NFL officials 8220;entered into a criminal conspiracy8221; with Jammu-based RFTC chief Radhey Shyam Sharma 8220;with a view to cheat the NFL by dishonestly causing wrongful gain to RFTC to the tune of Rs 4 crore 8230; in the matter of handling and transportation of fertilizers supplied by NFL to Jamp;K Marketing Cooperative Federation JAKFED, a State Government cooperative body.8221;

The NFL was sellingfertilizer in Jamp;K through JAFKED. As no private sale of fertilizer was allowed in the state, this was made through the Essential Commodities Act-allocation by the Agriculture Ministry. The NFL was allotted this quota from 1981, and the urea was supplied through its central marketing office in Chandigarh. According to the CBI, 8220;The NFL was producing its own fertilizers urea and to increase its sale, the NFL was in search of new markets in the state of Jamp;K which was considered to be an ideal off season market8217; during the months from March to June 8212; because of the climatic conditions in Jamp;K 8212; when no other state needs fertilizers.8221;

A five-year agreement was signed between the NFL and RFTC on May 20, 1983 for the transportation of the urea. RFTC was entitled to certain sales incentives, but investigations disclosed that during the period 1985 to February 1989, Radhey Shyam Sharma submitted fake bills to the NFL which were 8220;dishonestly accepted8221; by various NFL officials.

The investigating agency hasalso alleged that the RFTC was given certain off-season rebates to which the company was not entitled. Through sales incentives and off-season rebates the total payment made 8220;dishonestly8221; to RFTC was Rs 1,34,93,479.

Story continues below this ad

Investigations also disclosed that other Government companies like the IPL, KRIBHCO and IFFCO were also supplying fertilizers to Jamp;K through JAFKED, and that the IPL and KRIBHCO were handling their fertilizers through the RFTC, but these companies did not give any sales incentives or off season rebates.

The offence is punishable Under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 132 read with Section 131d of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.