Pune: Eight fake work orders worth over ₹ 1,349 crore have allegedly been issued for various Kumbh Mela-related projects in Nashik over the past three-and-a-half months, prompting the administration to tighten scrutiny of project documents
How events unfolded
One of those arrested has been identified as Tanay Mahajan, while Narendra Mahajan has also been arrested. The third accused, Sakhil Sheikh, is allegedly absconding. “All three accused against whom FIRs have been registered are notorious elements. There are police cases against them in Jamner as well.
The first two cases, involving bogus work orders worth over ₹ 39 crore, were detected in April with Nashik Road police subsequently arresting a local resident, Abhishek Jhare, who had allegedly fabricated the documents. The remaining six fake work orders, collectively worth ₹ 1,311 crore, were detected by Kumbh Mela minister Girish Mahajan earlier this week. As for the six fake work orders worth ₹ 1,311 crore fabricated by the three-member gang, the first three collectively worth ₹ 268 crore were for supplying food and drinking water to police officers and personnel deployed for the Kumbh. The accused allegedly outsourced the work to a contractor after collecting ₹ 1.4 crore from him. The fourth fake work order worth ₹ 452 crore was for supplying housekeeping staff, bedding and buckets for police personnel during the event. The accused allegedly handed the work order to another contractor after collecting ₹ 50 lakh. Whereas the remaining two fake work orders collectively worth over ₹ 591 crore were for installing a solar power plant and supplying batteries and inverters for the event. The accused allegedly collected ₹ 1.15 crore from another contractor and handed over the bogus work order.
I have asked the police not to spare anyone in this case,” he said. Deputy commissioner of police Kirankumar Chavan said that Mahajan had alerted commissioner Karnik about the bogus work orders following which, the Nashik city police registered FIRs based on complaints lodged by three contractors who had allegedly paid money to obtain the work orders. “Our police team is searching for the accused who is absconding,” Chavan said.
Mahajan alerted Nashik police commissioner Sandeep Karnik following which, a team of Nashik city police busted a three-member gang based in Jamner, Jalgaon, on Tuesday.
Investigation and Response
During the investigation, the police found another fake work order worth over ₹ 2 crore in Jhare’s mobile phone allegedly for providing manpower to the Nashik city police to serve as traffic wardens during the Kumbh; and yet another for repairs worth ₹ 1.5 crore at a government hospital in Trimbakeshwar. Following his instructions, the administration lodged a complaint, leading to Jhare’s arrest by Nashik Road police. A second complaint was subsequently filed at Bhadrakali police station.
