The Hindu: Mumbai: Saturday, June 17, 2017.
RTI query
reveals illegally-run food stalls at CST led to ₹91-lakh loss to the Railways.
The Bombay
High Court has disposed of an application filed by the Central Bureau of
Investigation to quash the case against seven Central Railway officers accused
in an alleged railway scam. The court said the CBI should probe the case
according to the order passed by the Special Judge of the CBI court on
September 17, 2013.
Railway
activist Ajay Bose had filed an query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act
after learning about alleged mismanagement in the operation of catering stalls
at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the city. The special CBI court in its
order directed the CBI to investigate the matter and submit a report. However,
the CBI filed an application in the High Court seeking quashing of the case.
Mr. Bose said, “It is clear from the judgment that the CBI had to register an
FIR against the errant officers.”
Mr. Bose
alleged that the officers of the Mumbai Division of the Central Railway
swindled crores of rupees resulting in a major loss to the Railways. Mr. Bose
said he has obtained documents under the RTI revealing that the Railways
incurred losses to the tune of ₹91 lakh because of the corrupt officers.
The seven
accused Chief Public Relations Officer Atul Rane, Assistant Commercial Manager
(Catering) S.S. Patange, Assistant Commercial Manager M.D. Shrivastav,
Divisional Commercial Manager Suresh Saxena, ex-Assistant Commercial Manager
(Catering) Manik Ram, Catering Inspector Sudhakar and Office Superintendent
(Catering) Ghodke [designations at the time of complaint] have been charged
under Section 156 (3) of the Cr.PC.
The RTI reply
revealed that several stalls and canteens operating at CST have not paid their
rent. Most of them have not renewed their contract and were making huge profits
by operating illegally. Mr. Bose in a letter to the CBI said the officers
undervalued the money generated at the stalls and deposited a lesser amount.
Mr. Bose said, “A few stalls were allowed without a licence for years.” He
registered a complaint with the CBI on March 10, 2011, and August 2012, but
received no reply. In July 2013, he filed a complaint with the CBI court
seeking action against the officials. Advocate Pradeep Havnur said, “This is
very sad. Instead of investigating the matter on the order of the CBI court,
the CBI filed an application to quash the matter. This shows the CBI is trying
to protect the accused.”
‘Astonishing
behaviour’
The High Court
order said, “We are surprised that the order of the special judge has neither
been challenged by the accused nor the complainant. Instead, it was challenged
by the investigating agency. We are astonished that the investigating machinery
is sitting on this order and not acting upon it by citing this application and
its pendency. We decline to grant any relief to the investigating machinery.
With the above clarification, we dispose of this application.”
Rajesh Darak,
Secretary, Whistle Blower India, said, “Such scams need to be highlighted and
the persons responsible for it should be punished. Prima facie it looked like a
big scam and that’s the reason CBI court ordered an inquiry. But instead of
submitting the investigation report, the CBI went to the High Court for
quashing the matter.” Mr. Darak said, “Even after the HC disposed of the case
in May, why was no action taken against the people mentioned in the report?
The
Superintendent of Police (CBI) and the General Manager of the Central Railway
failed to respond to calls made to find out their opinion on the HC disposing
of their plea.