Vigilance asked to look into alleged irregularities in Jharkhand

Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau has been asked to look into a report by the principal accountant general (PAG) pointing out alleged irregularities in the purchase of
sporting equipment for the upcoming 34th National Games.     

"The governor has referred the PAG report to the Vigilance Bureau a few days ago after they mentioned some irregularities in the purchase of equipment for the National Games amounting to Rs11.73 crore," a senior official said here.

When contacted, inspector general of police (Vigilance) MV Rao said that the bureau has not yet received any such order from Raj Bhavan.

The PAG alleged that a number of rules had been flouted while purchasing sporting goods and equipment for the upcoming 34th National Games scheduled in Jharkhand.

The report alleged that suppliers were paid an excess amount of Rs10.35 crore, while goods amounting to Rs73.55 lakh were purchased by furnishing wrong facts.

Tenders had also been allegedly drawn in such a way that it went to the "suppliers of choice" to enable them get the bids, the report alleged.

Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch MLA Bandhu Tirkey was holding the sports and youth affairs portfolio in both the UPA governments led by Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren when work for the Games were in full swing.

The 34th National Games have been postponed five times by the state government. Originally scheduled to be held in 2007, it was last postponed this November due to the election in Jharkhand.