Akela
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi got a standing ovation over his famous 2014 general election slogan ‘na khaunga, na khaane dunga,'(neither will I take bribe, nor will I allow anyone to take bribe). But Ghanshyam Singh, Member (Traction) Railway Board, New Delhi has a very different view from our PM. The slogan that he seems to be practising is āKhaunga zaroor lekin khaane nahin dunga,ā (I will take bribe, but I will make a honest livelihood impossible for people who refuse to bribe me).
On March 16, 2018 ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation) had published an (first) article under headline, āCentral Railway terminates a contract 21 months after the completion of work.ā
Satish Mandaokar, partner of M/s Quality Engineers and Contractors, a Mumbai based company has complained to several authorities against Ghanshyam Singh.
On May 22, 2015 there was an open tender at Tilak Bridge, New Delhi for doubling of electrification between Bhadohi and Janghai railway stations in Uttar Pradesh, worth Rs 9.55 crore. Three companies participated in bid. Mandaokar came to know that although his company M/S Quality Engineers and Contractors was lowest bidder (L-1) and fulfilled all the technical and financial criteria, Ghanshyam Singh (then CEE/C/TKJ/NDLS) and final decision making authority was allotting the tender to Sikka Engineering Company that was second bidder (L-2). Mandaokar met Ghanshyam Singh to know the reason for this obvious unfair and unethical decision. Shockingly, Ghanshyam Singh was very honest about his reasons and he categorically told Mandaokar that he had already promised the contract to Sikka Engineering Company as they had offered 3% commission of total contract value to him. Ghanshyam Singh also told Mandaokar that his decision was final and that Mandaokar was free to complain to anyone he wants.
āGhanshyam Singh told me that Sikka Engineering has offered 3% commission to him and therefore he had promised the contract to them regardless of other bidders. Singh also threatened me, saying that I can approach or complain about his behaviour to any authority against him. Nothing will happen to me. I can manage the whole Railway Board including the Railway Minister as well and nobody has guts to take action against meā said Mandaokar.
Finally Ghanshyam Singh as per his original intention, allotted the tender to Sikka Engineering Company, a Delhi based company that offered him higher commission.
There is an unwritten rule and practice of paying 1% commission on any tender to whoever is in charge. Mandaokar refused to pay 3% commission.
On August 15, 2015 Satish Mandaokar filed a complain against Ghanshyam Singh to several authorities including CVC, CBI, Prime Minister, Rail Minister and petitioned in High Court demanding an inquiry into the matter. But instead of taking any action, in February 2016 Ghanshyam Singh was promoted as Principal CEE, Northern Railway.Ā Later, he was also promoted as General Manager (GM) Eastern Railway, Kolkata and finally on March 17, 2017 awarded top post as Member (Traction) Railway Board. Thus gradually Ghanshyam Singh became even more powerful and started harassing and causing mental stress and agony to Mandaokar.
No authority has bothered to seriously enquire complaints on Ghanshyam Singhās corruption. His real brother R K Singh took VRS from railway job and flouted Jai Mata Di construction Company. Taking unfair advantage of his position and misusing his authority, Ghanshyam Singh systematically allots all tenders to his brotherās company.
While Narendra Modiās drive to root out corruption from the bureaucracy is indeed commendable, there are always rotten officers like Ghanshyam Singh who show scant disregard for rules, regulations and are corrupt to the core. Shockingly, instead of taking any kind of punitive and penal action against him, he has been rewarded for his corrupt practices and promoted to one of the highest Railway positions in the Country. Railway has had two honest Railway Ministers in Suresh Prabhu and Piyush Goyal. Hence their inaction in this matter is very concerning. This either indicates their inability to govern the Railways effectively or a deeper malaise in Railways that they have no control on. Prime Ministerās drive of corruption free India is unlikely to succeed if his own ministers are unable to prevent corruption in their ministries.
āGhanshyam Singh Modi ji ke slogan ko follow nahin kar raha hai. Woh sirf khata ja raha hai aur mujhe jeene layak bhi nahin chhod raha hai,ā said Mandaokar, who is hoping against hope that the guilty is punished and he can have a honest livelihood.
All complaintās copies available with ABI (abinet.org).