Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 12: A powerful Executive Engineer in the Rural Development Department (RDD) has allegedly extended undue benefits to close relatives of a former minister.
Sources in the department told Early Times that to stay at the prized post, the engineer engaged a top official in former minister's personnel staff. "The official settled deal and retained the engineer at the same post", sources said.
They said the engineer allotted works worth several crores to the close relatives of the former minister. "Contracts for cement supply, TMT bars, steel fabrication and signboards were given to relatives of the minister, using fictitious name of contractors", sources said.
They said the engineer using his past practices has also tried to convince the incumbent minister. "He might be new to the ministry, that is why he is yet to succumb to the temptations", he quoted the engineer as telling a group of his colleagues.
They said the engineer has kept his trusted employees in clerical, accounts and other sections of the RDD to keep eye on the working of other officials.
"One can access his network and web built over the years of his stay in RDD. Every single file is known to him. Without his nod, no one dares to touch any file. Everyone wants to keep good relations with him", said a top official.
"I cannot discuss many things in my office as well. I know my staff works for him," said another official while stating that he himself got transferred because of suffocation in the directorate.
Insiders further claimed that the engineer had recently gone to Delhi with the present minister where he in the company of his colleagues claimed that he "convinced the minister." |
