CBI raids houses of two Hindustan Newsprint Ltd officials

Kochi, Nov 16 (UNI) The CBI today raided four places, including residences of two officials of the public sector undertaking (PSU) Hindustan Newsprint Ltd at Vellore in Kottayam, in connection with a tender for the import of used newsprint, which allegedly caused a loss of Rs 75 lakh to the PSU.

Senior CBI officials here said that checkings were conducted this morning at the residences of HNL's Senior Manager, Purchase, Govind Raj, and Manager, Purchase, Bhaskar Pillai, in the HNL complex.

The office of Kochi-based Fast and Safe Transport Pvt Ltd and the residence of one Sunil Bose at Thrikkakara here were also searched this morning.

The CBI's search follows the state government decision's to hand over the probe into the deal to the agency.

CBI officials said the case was related to the import of used and old newsprint by the HNL for its de-inking plant at Vellore last year. The tender was allegedly awarded to Fast and Safe Transport Ltd, which in turn tied up with US-based Greenworth Consulting Company.

However, when the consignment landed at the HNL complex, it was found to be full of garbage and waste material.

The deal had caused a loss of Rs 75 lakh to the company, the officials said.

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