Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against five contractors linked to the MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) for submitting fake bills to withdraw Rs 37 crore for purchasing bitumen.
Fraudulent claims expose the quality of road construction in state, as well as the contractors’ alleged collusion with department employees. Bitumen, a crucial material for road construction due to its waterproofing and adhesive properties, must be used in the correct quantity to ensure durable roads.
However, the contractors involved in the scam submitted fake bills for bitumen purchased from companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, ESSAR, Nayraand others, despite not actually buying the material. DG EOW Upendra Jain said that AD Constructions from Jabalpur had submitted fake bills for Rs 36 lakh related to two projects.
Similarly, Vishwakusum Infratech, led by proprietorAkhilesh Mehta, withdrew Rs 12 crore after submitting bills for eight projects. Vashnaiv Associates, owned by Dharmendra Pratap Singh, submitted fake bills totalling Rs 23.57 crore for 12 projects.
Lal Bahadur Yadav was found to have withdrawn Rs 79.94 lakh for two packages, while Abdul Aziz submitted bills for Rs 21.99 lakh for two packages. The investigation revealed that none of the involved companies had issued the bills, confirming that the bitumen was never purchased.
