According to an official spokesman, the ACB initiated the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act after verifying claims that payments authorised by the former Chief Engineer led to a significant loss to the government exchequer. Allegedly, Puri approved payments to the contractor, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd., despite the department’s objections.

 

The investigation found that on March 15, 2005, a tender was issued for the project by the Joint Commissioner of Works and the Chief Engineer of the Mughal Road Project, PWD (R&B). Following a formal bidding process, the contract was awarded to Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. for Rs 214.40 crore, with an agreement finalised on February 6, 2006. The project was initially scheduled for completion on February 28, 2009, but the timeline was extended multiple times, ultimately to February 15, 2012.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 

When the work remained unfinished as of February 2012, the construction company requested an extension, leading the dispute to arbitration.

 

ACB’s verification revealed that former Chief Engineer Raman Puri engaged with representatives of Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. outside official procedures. The investigation claims that, in collusion with the company, Puri signed an agreement including a prior escalation clause, which led to an arbitration award in the company's favour, amounting to Rs 21.52 crore plus an additional Rs 11.27 crore. This award, dated March 28, 2019, reportedly blocked the imposition of Rs 54 crore in liquidated damages that could have been levied for the project's delayed completion.

 

These findings led to the registration of a case (FIR No. 23/2024) under sections 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code against Puri, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd., and others. Further investigations are currently underway.(KNS).