Scam-tainted NFL officers promoted

BATHINDA, July 4: The National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) has promoted three of its officers facing serious CBI charges in the Rs 10 crore sub-standard gunny bag scam to key posts. The company had suspended four officials on the basis of an internal vigilance inquiry. The case was later handed over to the CBI but because of the delay in framing chargesheets by the CBI, they were reinstated about a year ago.

According to sources, three of these officials have been promoted and given key posts, without waiting for the CBI nod. Interestingly, the promotion orders of one of the officials coincided with the visit of Union Chemical and Fertilizers Minister Surjit Singh Barnala to the unit two days ago.

Investigations by The Indian Express revealed that B S Rahi, who was Addl Manager, Material Department, when the scandal broke out, was sent to the Electrical Department as a disciplinary action. But eight months back, he was not only back in the Material Department but was also promoted as manager. R K Dhand,Addl Manager, Laboratory, and R K Bhalla, Deputy Manager, have also been promoted. Only the fourth accused, O P Gupta, Addl Manager, Stores, has been working on the same post.

When contacted, General Manager of NFL, Bathinda, S. K. Mehta, said he had no say in the promotions and these decisions were taken by a high-powered committee of the company’s corporate office in New Delhi.