The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Charge sheet submitted in "flyover scam" case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Charge sheet submitted in "flyover scam" case

K.T. Sangameswaran

Corporation to accord sanction for prosecuting 5 engineers, who were working in Bridges Department

CHENNAI: Nearly four years after the police registered a case in the alleged "flyover scam" during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule, the State Crime Branch CID on Thursday submitted to a city court the charge sheet.

The Appointments Committee of the Chennai Corporation has resolved to accord sanction for prosecuting five engineers, who were earlier working in the Bridges Department of the civic body, under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), in connection with the alleged scam.

The State CB CID had written to the Government seeking sanction to initiate criminal prosecution against 15 engineers of the Chennai Corporation and a former engineer. The Government decided to accord sanction and forwarded the police's proposal to the civic body. As an engineer retired in June 2000, it is for the Government to take a decision in this matter.

The CB CID registered a case on June 29, 2001, soon after the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regained power in the State.

In the FIR, the former Mayor of Chennai Corporation, M.K. Stalin, the former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, and his Cabinet colleagues K. Ponmudi and Ko.Si. Mani, two former Chief Secretaries and two serving IAS officers were cited among the accused. The offences mentioned in the FIR were under Sections 120-B, 167, 420 and 409 of the IPC and Sections 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Among the allegations were that before the issue of administrative sanction for the flyovers, the Corporation initiated action for engaging the consultant for preparing a detailed project report. The consultant selected was directed to group the nine flyovers allegedly to favour a few selected firms.

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