The Indian Express                15.04.2013

BMC blacklists contractor for faking bills

BMC has blacklisted a road contractor for six months for submitting fake bills. The contractor, which has bagged a road contract, has been disqualified by the civic administration and can't participate in new tender contracts.

Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure Company was found using sub-standard paver blocks at major junctions and submitting fake challans to the civic authority. Swiss firm SGS, appointed by BMC to conduct third party auditing and monitor the process and quality of road construction work by private firms, found that the firm also submitted fake bills to BMC by using pre-dated challans.

"It also evaded octroi of Rs 1.5 lakh," said Laxman Vhatkar, director (Engineering services & projects). "The committee looking into the issue has also recommended that this forms a case of criminal conduct. The BMC legal department will study the scope of filing an FIR against the company," he added.

As per a contract awarded to the firm in 2004 to lay paver blocks in the city, the firm allegedly submitted bills that had identical serial numbers. "It was found that the firm purchased small amounts of BMC-approved paver blocks and used it along with sub-standard material from the open market, said an official from roads department.

Following a report from the the third party audior, BMC had set up a three-member committee of BMC officials to probe the matter.