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Srinagar, Apr 26 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today registered a case against an Executive Engineer of the Gulmarg Development Authority and a supplier for purchase of some material on exorbitant rates.

A vigilance spokesman said the engineer had ordered the purchase of 9000 kg of fluorinate (concrete hardener) and 6000 lt of rapidite (quick setting material) without holding any competition or inviting tenders during November-December 2004.

While fluorinate was bought at the rate of Rs 45 per kg, rapidite had been purchased at Rs 55 per lt.

The spokesman said preliminary market survey conducted by the Vigilance revealed that both the items were available in the market at considerably lesser rates.

An amount of Rs 4.50 lakh and Rs 3.22 lakh had been paid to the supplier against the material by the accused, he added.

The spokesman said the investigations further revealed by purchasing the material on exorbitant rates, a huge loss had been caused to the state exchequer with corresponding pecuniary benefits to the accused official and the supplier.

The vigilance has registered a case and launched investigations after having prima-facie established a criminal conspiracy for conferring undue benefits to themselves and the corresponding loss to the state exchequer by making such purchases.

UNI