The officials have been identified as Prashant Rao, the then executive director, and Madan Pal, the then deputy general manager at DMRC

New Delhi, August 3

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked two former officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for alleged corruption in tendering of optical fibre for the transport network. 

The officials have been identified as Prashant Rao, the then executive director, and Madan Pal, the then deputy general manager at DMRC. 

The CBI has also booked a firm identified as M/s Tejas Network Limited citing that there are more accused involved in the case. 

As per the case details, Tejas Network was awarded tender for design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of fibre optical transmission systems and wide area network system for Delhi MRTS Project Phase-Ill. Pal was allegedly responsible for preparation of estimates, floating of tenders and calling of bids and was also a member of the tender evaluation committee.

The DMRC had reportedly carried out a departmental inquiry and found in 2018 that several irregularities were committed in the award of the contract. These included preparation of estimates on a single quotation of Tejas, allowing agencies qualified to execute projects of only Rs 30 crore in the tender that entailed Rs 49 crores and failure to provide envelopes of bid submission etc.

The CBI FIR stated. “During the income tax raid at the premises of Tejas Network Ltd., certain documents were seized which indicated that bribe was paid to certain public servant of DMRC and other organisation in obtaining some contracts. The documents included WhatsApp chats and loose sheets indicating the per cent of cuts given to employees of DMRC for getting projects from them”. .

The accused have been booked for criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct.