Gujarat CID Arrests Surat Engineer in Rs.12.44 Cr Scam

Surat : The Gujarat CID crime’s Surat zone has uncovered a major embezzlement case involving government funds meant for tribal development. Payal Niranjan Bansal, a 33-year-old deputy executive engineer at the Bilimora Sub-Divisional Office, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a ₹12.44 crore scam. Six other public servants have also been implicated in the fraud, which involved fake bills for incomplete projects under the Gujarat Government’s Rejuvenation Tribal Program.

The CID investigation revealed that Bansal, along with six accomplices, conspired to misuse government funds allocated for tribal development. Bansal, a resident of Coral Palace on Gaurav Path Road, Surat, held a key position in the Water Supply Branch of the Bilimora Sub-Divisional Office during the period in question.

Bogus Bills and Incomplete Projects

Under the Rejuvenation Tribal Program, 163 projects, including pipelines, wells, and borewells, were sanctioned. Of these, 161 projects fell under Bansal’s jurisdiction. Shockingly, only one project was completed, while 159 remained untouched. Fake bills amounting to ₹9.55 crore were prepared and payments were made to contractors for the incomplete works, causing massive losses to the state exchequer.

Key Accused and Their Roles

The other accused public servants include:

Budhabhai Patel: Retired Executive Engineer, Navsari Public Health Department

Shilpa K. Raj: Deputy Executive Engineer, Vansda Sub-Office

Kiran B. Patel: Additional Assistant Engineer, Navsari Sub-Office

Rajesh Kumar Jha: Divisional Accountant

R.G. Patel: Senior Clerk, Navsari Divisional Office

J.P. Parmar: Senior Clerk, Bilimora/Divisional Office

These individuals allegedly colluded to flout departmental procedures, forge documents, and manipulate official records to embezzle funds.

Misuse of Funds and Procedures

The accused exceeded the sanctioned budget of ₹7.16 crore under the 2023-24 Action Plan, funneling additional funds through unauthorized payments. They bypassed tendering processes, submitted fraudulent documentation, and destroyed crucial records. Additionally, they misused software systems such as ERP and FAS of the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board to facilitate the scam.

Total Financial Loss

The scam not only involved ₹12.44 crore in fraudulent payments but also an additional ₹1.25 crore loss due to the failure to collect the mandatory 10% public contribution from Panchayats. In total, the government suffered a loss exceeding ₹12.44 crore.

Legal and Criminal Implications

A case has been registered against Bansal and her accomplices under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CID has emphasized that the fraudulent actions of these public servants not only violated government protocols but also deprived tribal communities of essential development works.