Chargesheet served to some of NEERI scientists
| Date :20-Apr-2023 |
Staff Reporter
Chargesheet has been served to some of the scientists in CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) over the allegations of ‘consultancy scam’. A few of these scientists have submitted their response to the chargesheet before the appropriate authority, and some others are in the process of doing the same by hiring lawyers.
Though the officials in NEERI as well as Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at Delhi are tight-lipped about the matter, sources in both confirmed that chargesheet had been served to some of the scientists who were named in a complaint filed with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and other authorities a couple of years ago. On condition of anonymity and without naming the scientists who have got chargesheet, a senior officer in NEERI told ‘The Hitavada’ that once the investigation was complete, the CVC may make appropriate recommendations to CSIR. If the CVC recommends action against the scientists, CSIR will initiate necessary steps.
As per the details, the entire matter came to fore in 2019 when Sanjay Suman, former Stores and Purchase Officer of NEERI (then posted at another CSIR establishment Central Food Technological Research Institute) brought it to the notice of Dr Rakesh Kumar, the then Director of NEERI. Before pointing out that payments were made ‘bypassing the rules and guidelines in procurement’ in specific instances to a specific company, Sanjay Suman had sent a confidential note also. In that note, he had mentioned that irregularities were ‘not possible without passive involvement of CSIR-NEERI officials who have hands in gloves with such firms’.
As the complainant felt that no action was taken on te irregularities he had unearthed, Sanjay Suman then filed a complaint with the Director at CVC. In that, he elaborated modus operandi of the ‘syndicate’ involved in the ‘scam’.
“It is the modus operandi of the syndicate to get & create specific peculiar projects related to specialised Scientific & Technical Services from different source of funding and then showing the paucity of trained/skilled manpower for getting it done at laboratory/institute level. This is against the ethics of the sponsored & consultancy projects also. The syndicate finds all the possibilities to award supply/work order directly to the parties in caucus without entering into any tendering/competitive process,” Suman had stated. Suman had named a company with registered address of CSIR-NEERI’s Mumbai Zonal Centre premises, and had alleged that Dr Rakesh Kumar was one of the Directors/Proprietors of the said company.
Following the complaint and CVC direction, CSIR constituted a Fact Finding Committee (FFC) and served notice to 13 officers/scientists of NEERI including Dr Rakesh Kumar summoning them to Delhi. It was reported in media that time. Later on, in February 2021, Sanjay Suman’s wife Shalini Mishra also sent a complaint in this regard to the Prime Minister’s Office and sought ‘stern action against the corrupt’. Dr Rakesh Kumar had challenged the constitution of the FFC through a writ petition before the Delhi High Court. However, in April 2021, his counsel Senior Advocate J P Sengh had submitted to the court that the petitioner (Dr Rakesh Kumar), ‘does not wish to press the present writ petition’. However, he had added, “if the said Committee gives any finding against the Petitioner, and the same is accepted by the authorities, he would like to reserve his right to raise a challenge at that stage.” Around the same time, Dr Rakesh Kumar was divested of his charge as Director of NEERI, transferred him out of Nagpur, and posted him in CSIR, Delhi.
Some more complaints were made by others to the CVC and CSIR. According to sources, recently, the chargesheet was served to some of the scientists. “Some of them have submitted their response, and some others have hired lawyers to submit their response to the chargesheet,” said an officer. However, he added, nothing is being done at the level of NEERI. Meanwhile, CSIR officials at Delhi also preferred to be unnamed and said that everything was proceeding as per CVC directions. The officials at CSIR and NEERI both said that the NEERI was a reputed organisation that was engaged in good work. “Whatever be the result of the investigation, general public should not view NEERI in negative light as due process is being followed on the complaint,” said a senior officer.
