Spaceage Switch Gears Deputy Manager A K Bandopadhyay, who bid on street-lighting work on behalf of his firm, made the insinuation while deposing as prosecution witness before Special Judge Pradeep Chaddah.
Hinting that tender was manipulated to unduly benefit the beneficiary company, Bandopadhyay said the file of M/s Sweska Powertech, the firm accused of getting undue benefits, was taken out after the opening of the tenders and one of the promoters of the company had manipulated the same.
Bandopadhyay said he and his company's Vice President J D Paul and AGM Gaurav Bhalla participated in the tender opening process on May 14, 2008 for the city's street lighting works.
He said the tenders were submitted only by M/s Spaceage and M/s Sweska Powertech, which was allegedly awarded the contract illegally.
"Apart from the representatives of the bidding companies, there were MCD employees namely D K Sugan and O P Mahla and three others," he said.
To a question by the CBI prosecutor as to what instructions were given to Bhalla by Paul after the announcement of the rates, Bandopadhyay said, "J D Paul told Gaurav Bhalla that file of M/s Sweska Powertech had been taken out to P S Room and so he (Bhalla) should go and find out what is happening.
"I heard Gaurav Bhalla telling J D Paul upon his return from outside that something was being written in the file."
When asked as to who was writing in the file, he said, "I do not know. J P Singh (promoter of Sweska Powertech) would have been writing." (MORE) PTI AKI SKV
