ACB files chargesheet in school computer procurement scam

Raipur: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Raipur filed a chargesheet on Monday in connection with an alleged Rs 4.72 crore scam in the procurement of computer equipment under the Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission.The chargesheet was submitted before the special court in Raipur on March 16 in a case linked to purchases made during 2010-11 and 2011-12. An offence was registered under IPC sections related to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.According to investigators, accused Alok Kushwaha, Anju Kushwaha and Sanjeet Sahu allegedly conspired to use forged and fabricated documents to secure contracts, causing a financial loss of Rs 4.72 crore to the state exchequer.Officials said that under a computer-aided education scheme, the mission was tasked with supplying LFD/TFT monitor-based computer equipment to govt upper primary schools across all 18 districts of the state at the time. A total of 638 monitors were procured in two phases, 246 units in 2010-11 and 392 units in 2011-12.Officials said Mini Infotech, operated by Alok Kushwaha, supplied 246 monitors in the first phase, while Global Network Solution, Raipur, supplied 392 monitors in the second phase.ACB/ EOW chief Amresh Mishra said that the agency found that the accused allegedly forged authorisation letters in the names of reputed companies such as HP and Agmatel to legitimise the supply. The scam hinged on grossly inflated pricing, with each monitor supplied at Rs 1,26,500, nearly double the market price of Rs 57,950 per unit.Following completion of the investigation, the chargesheet was filed against the three accused. The bureau also recommended departmental action against former officials of the mission.