Transport scam: Retd IAS officer abused position, claims ACB

The Anti-Corruption Branch has alleged that former Transport Commissioner R K Verma and other officials of the department had abused their position to cause illegal gain of several crore of rupees to a private firm in the Rs 100 crore transport scam.
In its charge sheet filed before a Delhi court, the ACB has alleged that Verma, a retired IAS officer, and other officials had favoured private company M/s ESP India Pvt Ltd by misleading the facts to the Transport Department.
"During investigation, it is clearly proved that by the consent of R K Verma, the concerned transport officials made notings in favour of M/s ESP India Pvt Ltd by violating all the rules and regulations and no tender was called to explore other companies so that a healthy competition could come in picture which could be beneficial for public and government.

"Hence for the personal gain R K Verma colluded with other officials and accused persons had favoured the accused company by misleading the facts to the Department," it said.
It also alleged that Verma "by abusing his official position and power facilitated ESP India Pvt Ltd to earn several crores of rupees illegally".
The ACB filed its charge sheet before Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry naming nine persons, including two IAS officers, as accused in the case. The court has fixed September 26 for consideration of the charge sheet.

Besides Verma, ACB chargesheeted another IAS officer and former transport commissioner R Chandramohan and J P Sharma, the then Deputy Commissioner in Transport Department.

It has also named as accused in the charge sheet ESP India's director Nitin Manawat, CEO of M/s Tambros India Ltd Puran Chand Tamta, an alliance partner of ESP India, Joginder Sharma, M A Usmani and Ashok Gupta, former Deputy Commissioners posted at Vehicle Inspection Unit at Burari, and then joint commissioner in Transport Department V K Gupta.
All accused were arrested by the ACB in 2013 and are now out on bail. They have already denied the charges.
Except J P Sharma, the other government officials have retired from service and the LG has accorded sanction to prosecute Sharma in the case, the charge sheet said.

The charge sheet was filed for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC, including sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.