Bailable warrant against former MPSEB officials

Jabalpur, Feb 26 (UNI) A bailable warrant has been issued against former Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) Chairman Ved Prakash Chawala and three former MPSEB members by the High Court for causing loss of crores of rupees to the MPSEB while working as public servants.

Admitting an appeal filed by the government challenging a lower court order acquitting Mr Chawla and former MPSEB officials Brahmankar, R G Sahne and Amreek Singh in a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Lokayukta Special Police, Justice Umesh Maheshwari directed that fresh cases be registered against them.

The court issued bailable warrants against the four accused and directed them to be present during the hearing, which will take place six weeks later.

Public prosecutor Sushila Paliwal told the court that a special Lokayukta court here had acquitted the four accused. The officials had issued orders to allot contracts to two companies for laying down high-tension electricity lines without inviting tenders.

During investigation, the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment found that these officials had allotted contracts of more than Rs one crore by misusing their posts. This had caused a financial loss of Rs 3.67 crore to the MPSEB.

On September 30, 2006, the state government had challenged the lower court order acquitting the accused.

UNI