State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB), Raipur on Monday presented the first chargesheet before the Special Court in the alleged Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) manpower overtime payment case involving alleged excess payments of approximately Rs 182.98 crore. The first chargesheet has been filed against 12 accused namely Anwar Dhebar, Naveen Pratap Singh Tomar, Tijuaram Nirmalkar, Abhishek Singh, Neeraj Kumar Chaudhary, Ajay Lohia, Ajit Darandale, Amit Prabhakar Salunke, Amit Mittal, N Uday Rao, Rajeev Dwivedi and Sanjeev Jain. The case has been registered under Sections 7(B) and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended in 2018 along with Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. According to SEOIACB investigation, excess payments were allegedly made to manpower supply agencies between financial years 2019-20 and 2023-24 under heads including overtime, bonus, four additional workdays and service charges linked to those payments. Investigation documents record alleged overtime payments of around Rs 101.20 crore, bonus payments of approximately Rs 12.21 crore and nearly Rs 54.46 crore paid under the head of four additional workdays. Service charges linked to overtime, bonus and additional workday payments were stated to be around Rs 15.11 crore.

 

The probe agency stated that the total alleged excess payment of approximately Rs 182.98 crore was made to manpower agencies including Sumeet Facilities, Primeone Workforce, A-To-Z Infraservices, Alert Commandos and Eagle Hunter Solutions along with other related agencies. According to the investigation, the amount was originally meant for employees deployed at CSMCL liquor shops. However, statements of company representatives, CSMCL office witnesses, shop-level employees and witnesses linked to alleged movement of cash reportedly indicated that the amount was not actually paid to employees. SEOIACB stated that prima facie evidence revealed that the funds were allegedly withdrawn through forged or inflated bills and overtime payment arrangements and were allegedly utilised for commission payments to officials and members of the alleged syndicate besides generating financial benefit for companies. The chargesheet also refers to seizure of Rs 28.80 lakh cash on November 29, 2023, describing it as a significant link in the alleged commission arrangement. According to the investigation, the amount was allegedly meant to reach Naveen Pratap Singh Tomar in connection with clearance of bills related to Eagle Hunter Solution Limited and Alert Commandos Private Limited. The agency has recorded the alleged role of Tijuaram Nirmalkar and Abhishek Singh in handling the seized amount. SEOIACB stated that investigation regarding the role of other related persons, utilisation and investment of alleged illegal proceeds and connected facts remains underway.