ED Conducts Raids at Chief Engineer's Office in Bengaluru Over Borewell Fraud
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Bengaluru, January 8 (NationPress) - Officers from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated search operations at the office of the Chief Engineer of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) concerning an alleged borewell fraud amounting to Rs 9,000 crore, as reported by sources on Tuesday.
A contingent of seven ED officials commenced their raid at the BBMP office on Tuesday morning, carrying out extensive searches and inspections that persisted until late evening.
The central investigative agency succeeded in seizing crucial documents and digital evidence throughout the operation, according to additional sources.
During the raid, the ED officials conducted inquiries with Chief Engineer B.S Prahlad and questioned assistant engineers as well as assistant executive engineers regarding the borewell fraud.
Sources indicated that this investigation links back to the Rs 9,000 crore fraud involving borewell drilling activities conducted by the BBMP in Bengaluru from 2016 to 2019.
A formal complaint regarding the borewell scam was lodged with the ED in 2021.
In 2022, the ED had issued a notice to the BBMP concerning the matter.
The agency is also scrutinizing allegations of corruption related to the execution of white topping projects.
A group of BJP legislators from Bengaluru had submitted a complaint to the ED, highlighting illegalities associated with borewell drilling and white topping initiatives.
In 2018-19, significant allegations of corruption emerged regarding these issues.
The BJP representatives claimed that the BBMP asserted expenditures ranging from Rs 12 to Rs 18 crore for each kilometer of white topping work in Bengaluru, raising suspicions about an overspending of Rs 3,046 crore over 279 kilometers of white topping projects.
The complaint detailed that in the initial phase covering 93.37 kilometers, an expenditure of Rs 1,147.76 crore was reported, followed by Rs 758.56 crore for 62.80 kilometers in the second phase, and Rs 1,139 crore for 123 kilometers in the third phase.
Additionally, the ED is investigating potential money laundering allegations.
As of now, an official statement regarding these operations is pending from the ED.
