Press Confrance on Multy Crore Scam by Corruped Sr. Officers in State Utility corporation

New Delhi:* The detrimental impact of corruption and fraudulent earnings on national and regional development can be vividly observed in the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), an energy corporation in the 'Land of Gods,' Uttarakhand. Senior officials occupying key positions in UPCL, namely the Managing Director (MD) and Director (Projects), have allegedly secured their posts through deceit and manipulation and have been involved in multiple multimillion-Rupee scandals and corruption cases. Despite investigations and recommended punitive actions at the government level, these cases have languished in inactivity for an extended period, showcasing the power and influence these officials wield. On one hand, they obstruct development, while on the other, they have amassed a massive empire of over fifty properties, both registered and unregistered, through illicit earnings. These properties, acquired under various names, conceal many dark deeds.

The current MD of UPCL, Anil Kumar, began his career as an Assistant Engineer in the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board in 1987-88. Since the formation of Uttarakhand, he has served UPCL and PTCUL, reaching the position of Chief Engineer Level-1, and is due to retire in three to four months. Assuming an average monthly salary of one lakh rupees over 35 years, his total legitimate earnings, including savings, should not exceed five crores. This amount assumes complete salary savings, with no living expenses. However, this corrupt official has acquired properties worth around 150 crores, which have come to light. His close associate, Assistant Ajay Agarwal, is in a similar situation, with both having amassed unaccounted wealth exceeding 200 crores.

They have indiscriminately used the names of family members and partners to invest their ill-gotten wealth in various businesses, a method that also raises eyebrows. Notably, these officials have grossly violated service regulations, erecting an empire without proper authorization. MD Anil Kumar's property declaration to the corporation on 11-05-2021 mentioned only four properties in Dehradun and three in Lucknow, while he had already acquired about 35-40 properties in Dehradun alone. Ajay Agawal had similarly dealt in 15-20 properties.

The corruption continues unabated, with assets registered in the names of their children, unmarried partner (Miss Mala Singh), sons-in-law, and relatives. For example, large branded showrooms in Rishikesh and Dehradun are leased for lakhs of rupees per month in the name of Anil Kumar's son Yashraj, who was drawing a salary of 40-45 thousand rupees in 2015-16 from a contractor company, M/s Aashish Transpower, associated with PTCUL. Similarly, luxury flats worth lakhs and crores have been purchased in Dehradun's upscale Panash Valley in the names of sons-in-law and elderly relatives. These officials have shrewdly evaded scrutiny from the ED and income tax departments by providing misleading addresses and falsifying relationships in official documents. For example, Anil Kumar claimed that he, his wife, his son, and his daughters are living in Jaunpur, and his wife is the daughter of his father-in-law instead of being Anil Kumar's wife.

*Key instances of malfeasance:*

• Manipulating PSDF and ADB-funded projects in PTCUL through tender pooling and collusion to favor cronies.
  - Waiving all contract terms and conducting inspections at distant locations in a single day.
  - Threatening and mistreating the Director (Projects) and misbehaving with female colleagues.
  - Disregarding serious investigative recommendations by senior IAS officers and shutting down ongoing investigations through influence.
  - After involvement in numerous scams, securing the post of MD in UPCL through incomplete ACRs and unmet appointment conditions.
  - Appointing a tainted individual as Director (Projects) due to their friendship.
• - Ignoring FIR orders by the former CM on the UPCL’s controversial power purchase case, showing favoritism in recovering dues from 'Create Power'.
  - Manipulating contracts worth hundreds of crores with ‘Peer Punjal’ and ‘Fabric Contractors’, and fragmenting tenders to award them unscrupulously.
  - Burdening consumers with expensive power purchases in collusion with the hydropower corporation.
  - Aspiring for service extension even before retirement and the completion of the MD’s tenure.