Madras HC seeks report on probe into irregularities in bitumen

Chennai, Oct 20: The Madras High Court ordered the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) tofile within four weeks a status report on probe into alleged irregularities in the purchase of bitumen in Tamil Nadu.

A Division Bench comprising Justices M M Sundaresh and M Sundar directed the DVAC to file the status report on a public interest litigation. The PIL was filed by RTI activist G Balaji seeking a CBIprobe into the alleged irregularities of Rs 1,000 crore in purchase of bitumen for road-laying and maintenance works.

Bitumen, a major road construction constituent, has become a primary source for officials of the state highways department to siphon off public funds, Balaji has alleged in his petition. He has also alleged that officials of the state highways department in collusion with contractors had "cashed out" Rs 800 to 1,000 crore from 2014-16 in the guise of procuring bitumen for road-laying and maintenance work.

Submitting some documents, which he claimed, were proof he gathered through RTI applications from the department, thepetitioner wanted the court to order a probe by the CBI or any other independent agency.

PTI