ACB files chargesheet against ten people in Balganga irrigation scam

Anti-Corruption Bureau today filed a charge sheet against 10 people in connection with the Balganga irrigation scam, before a district court here.

The alleged multi-crore scam is related to construction of a dam on Balganga river in Raigad district of Konkan region.

Those named in the chargesheet are: Fateh Mohammed Khatri, Nisar Khatri, Abid Khatri and Jahid Khatri of FA Enterprises who have been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery, among other charges.

The chargesheet also names KIDC (Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation) former officials Girish Babar, Balasaheb Patil, Ramchandra Shinde, Anand Kalukhe, Rajesh Rite and Vijay Kasat. They are charged with corruption, criminal misconduct, cheating etc.

The ACB slapped various sections of IPC for cheating and fraud, besides the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against the accused.

On August 25 last year, the ACB had registered an FIR against 11 accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 92 crore to the government through misconduct in connection with the construction of the dam.

It is alleged that the original cost of the project escalated from Rs 353 crore to Rs 1,220 crore during the rule of Congress-led UPA government.

After assuming power in 2014, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had ordered ACB to conduct an open enquiry in this regard.