Robbery charge in, PIL asks SC: probe Dubey’s complaint

At least two of Dubey’s charges stand vindicated in more ways than one. As reported in The Indian Express last month, the National Highway Authority of India recently terminated two Golden Quadrilateral contracts and blacklisted 14 contractors for shoddy implementation. It now transpires that many of these companies are those about whom Dubey had filed written complaints and against whom specific allegations have been listed in the affidavit.

Incidentally, the CBI, during its murder probe, had admitted that Dubey’s complaint had enough evidence to file a clutch of cases against NHAI officials and private contractors working on the NH-2 stretch where Dubey was employed.

Curiously, while the NHAI has chosen to give a token denial on many of the allegations made by Dubey, its legal action against 17 contractors nails its own version. The contracts whom Dubey had named and against whom the NHAI has now taken stringent action include M/S China Coal Construction Group Corporation and M/S Centrodorstoy of Russia which has been declared a ‘‘nor-performing’’ contractor.

Dubey’s complaints of corruption and mismanagement fall under five heads: mobilising advance to contractors; misuse of excise duty and excise duty exemptions; procurement of civil contractors; selection of consultants and preparation of Detailed Project Reports.

While all this appears general, the fine print has details:

• Advances were given to contractors in a great hurry, sometimes just a day after the contract was signed.

• Diversion of funds meant as ‘‘equipment advance.’’ Instances where equipment was procured and shifted to other sites

• Contractors submitting ‘‘forged’’ documents to claim excise exemptions.

• Contracts, sometimes even up to 100%, sublet or subcontracted to small petty contractors.

• NHAI officials did not ask for documentary proof in support of claims.

Said counsel for the petitioner Prashant Bhushan: ‘‘The NHAI has as yet stonewalled all this and that is why we have demanded a special investigating team be set up to examine the corruption issues raised by Dubey.’’

ENS adds from Patna: According to the CBI chargesheet filed against Manto Kumar, Uday Kumar and Pinku Ravidas—all in judicial custody now—Dubey was killed by the gang after he resisted an attempt to rob him. Manto pulled the trigger, says the chargesheet filed before CBI Special Judge Sanjay Kumar Singh.

According to the CBI, Dubey was returning from Varanasi where he had gone to seek a match for his sister. But Dhananjay Dubey, Satyendra’s brother, told The Indian Express that he still didn’t believe it was a mere case of robbery. ‘‘The CBI is not consistent in what they are saying. Initially, they said bhaiya had money in the suitcase, now they are not sure. I don’t think he would have tried to resist a gang which outnumbered him.’’