railways corruption of UPA Govt
New Delhi: The CBI today unearthed a racket in connection to supply of packaged drinking water other than mandatory 'Rail Neer' in premium trains.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team recovered Rs 20 crore in cash during searches at 13 locations against two former Northern Railways officials and seven private firms.
The CBI sources said a case has been registered against the then Chief Commercial Managers (PS and Catering) of Northern Railways MS Chalia and Sandeep Silas.
The agency has also booked private companies RK Associates Pvt Ltd, Satyam Caterers Pvt Ltd, Ambuj Hotel and Real Estate, PK Associates Pvt Ltd, Sunsine Pvt Ltd, Brandavan Food Product and Food World under Prevention of Corruption Act provisions.
Mr Silas has served as the private secretary of a former union minister.
The sources claimed cash recovery of Rs 20 crore was made from the residence of Shyam Bihari Agrawal, his sons Abhishek Agrawal and Rahul Agarwal who own RK Associates and Brandavan Food Product.
It is alleged that the accused had shown favour to these private firms in supply of cheap packaged drinking water PDW other than mandatory 'Rail Neer' in premium trains including Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express.
CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said it was further alleged that the Railway Board had prescribed that IRCTC shall provide Rail Neer at a rate of Rs 10.50 (approx) per bottle to the private caterers and the private caterers will be paid Rs 15 (approx) per bottle for supplying the same to passengers in premium trains.
However, the private suppliers in order to obtain undue gain, were allegedly supplying cheap packaged water, other than "Rail Neer", available in the market at a rate of Rs 5.70 to 7.00 (approx) per bottle, thereby causing gain to themselves and loss to the exchequer, the official said.
"The accused public servants allegedly did not take any action against the private parties providing catering services in the premium trains despite repeated requests of IRCTC for non-picking of allotted quota of 'Rail Neer' by Private Caterers," the spokesperson said.
CBI said directions of Railway Board to ensure supply of "Rail Neer" in premium trains were also ignored by the officials thereby causing undue pecuniary advantage to the private parties and corresponding loss to IRCTC.
"Searches are being conducted today at 13 places in Delhi and Noida which led to recovery of cash amount of more than Rs 20 crore(approx) and a large number of incriminating documents," the spokesperson said. more
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team recovered Rs 20 crore in cash during searches at 13 locations against two former Northern Railways officials and seven private firms.
The CBI sources said a case has been registered against the then Chief Commercial Managers (PS and Catering) of Northern Railways MS Chalia and Sandeep Silas.
The agency has also booked private companies RK Associates Pvt Ltd, Satyam Caterers Pvt Ltd, Ambuj Hotel and Real Estate, PK Associates Pvt Ltd, Sunsine Pvt Ltd, Brandavan Food Product and Food World under Prevention of Corruption Act provisions.
Mr Silas has served as the private secretary of a former union minister.
The sources claimed cash recovery of Rs 20 crore was made from the residence of Shyam Bihari Agrawal, his sons Abhishek Agrawal and Rahul Agarwal who own RK Associates and Brandavan Food Product.
It is alleged that the accused had shown favour to these private firms in supply of cheap packaged drinking water PDW other than mandatory 'Rail Neer' in premium trains including Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express.
CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said it was further alleged that the Railway Board had prescribed that IRCTC shall provide Rail Neer at a rate of Rs 10.50 (approx) per bottle to the private caterers and the private caterers will be paid Rs 15 (approx) per bottle for supplying the same to passengers in premium trains.
However, the private suppliers in order to obtain undue gain, were allegedly supplying cheap packaged water, other than "Rail Neer", available in the market at a rate of Rs 5.70 to 7.00 (approx) per bottle, thereby causing gain to themselves and loss to the exchequer, the official said.
"The accused public servants allegedly did not take any action against the private parties providing catering services in the premium trains despite repeated requests of IRCTC for non-picking of allotted quota of 'Rail Neer' by Private Caterers," the spokesperson said.
CBI said directions of Railway Board to ensure supply of "Rail Neer" in premium trains were also ignored by the officials thereby causing undue pecuniary advantage to the private parties and corresponding loss to IRCTC.
"Searches are being conducted today at 13 places in Delhi and Noida which led to recovery of cash amount of more than Rs 20 crore(approx) and a large number of incriminating documents," the spokesperson said. more
Viewed by 3115
View all 51 comments Below 51 comments
Unless all services are privatised and govt has only the task of regulation, this will continue. Private contract organizations will hold suppliers accountable and will lose their contract unless they deliver proper service to the common man. Today we are at the mercy of the Railways like any other govt. instintution. You cannot be certain about travel as tickets will be limited. Quality of service standards are not defined. You have to accept whatever is disched out. So there is no incentive to excel in service but make money through corrupt means and ignore quality. When govt. says Public private pertnership model, this is what they mean. Customers can pay for the gov. and the crony private party while the former can suffer as they have no other option. Railways should be run by many private companies so you as customer have options, just like in airlines. Railways service is exactly like the P&T services in the past when only govt. could provide telecommunication services. People from the earlier generations would remember what kind of services we use to get. You could be even paying for other people who would use your line by bribing the lines man. The whole system needs seismic change else the rot will continue and will only get worse. Don't forget that quality of people employed is geeting worse by the day with mediocrity and poor education standards growing. more
Oct 30
I have seen in my own eyes several times that the used water bottles are collected by a group of boys filled from tas near old delhi railway station sealed in a near by room and supplied to the railway stalls.This is a very old practice. more
Oct 19
Shikha Jain ji whether the present management/ruling govt is not involved in this scam? Is the system is not running as was during previous govt? Yes, the officials of present and leaders of present ruling govt are also involved in the scam as the same system is continue today also. more
Oct 19
In railway a big scam has been detected which is going on from last so any years with blessings of Ministers & officers. One side politicians took patting self for not increasing fares and other side were busy in cheating consumers . Due to which today raiway's infrastructure is collapsing due to fund crunch. Officers arrested has good political links and manage to work as PA to central Ministers for long time. All his link needs to e verified. As as corruption is concerned ,a non-political movement is needed on national level to deal eradication of corruption. Take any area there is coruption more
Oct 19
