By Rakesh Giri
NEW DELHI: A significant financial scandal involving corrupt officials has come to light. An alleged ₹2.56 crore scam is tied to the National Projects Construction Corporation Limited (NPCC), a government undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The scandal, which centers on the actions of Smt. Jasmeet Dhar Singh, an official in the Human Resources (HR) department, has led to calls for a high-level inquiry.
According to an internal investigation by NPCC, funds allocated for various public projects in Jharkhand were misused. Some projects were allegedly not completed, yet payments were made to contractors by corrupt officials within the company. The investigation identified Mr. Navjay Shankar Singh, a former senior project manager at NPCC, as the main perpetrator of the scam. He was found guilty of intentional mismanagement and fraudulent payments.
In response to the findings, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NPCC imposed a fine of ₹2.56 lakh on Mr. Singh through a formal directive dated December 28, 2017. In addition, Smt. Jasmeet Dhar Singh, the General Manager of HR and Finance at NPCC, was directed to take necessary action to recover the misappropriated funds from Mr. Singh.
However, despite clear directives, Smt. Singh’s handling of the situation has raised concerns. Sources claim that she failed to initiate timely action against the accused official and even suppressed key documents related to the case. It is alleged that her delay in pursuing recovery allowed the limitation period to expire, thereby preventing any legal proceedings. This inaction resulted in significant financial losses to the government.
In light of these allegations, officials are calling for a thorough investigation into Smt. Jasmeet Dhar Singh’s role in the scandal. There are concerns that her interests may have influenced her failure to act, thus shielding the guilty parties. As a result, there is growing pressure to suspend her from her position until the inquiry is completed.
Further investigations are also underway into potential collusion between Smt. Singh and the corrupt officials involved in the scam. Sources suggest that the HR department’s role in protecting the criminals warrants a closer look.
The case has raised alarms about the need for stronger oversight and accountability in government-run enterprises, with calls for swift action to recover the stolen funds and punish those responsible.
