Maharashtra PWD, irrigation scams: Several companies under MCA lens

New Delhi, Dec 18: Several companies have come under the scanner of the Corporate Affairs Ministry for their suspected role in alleged irrigation scam and irregularities in certain public works in Maharashtra.

In this regard, the Ministry has taken action against 77 companies for violating provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha today.

According to him, the Ministry has received certain complaints, which have been forwarded to respective Registrars of Companies (RoCs) for examination and for necessary action as per provisions of the Companies Act.

His reply was to a query on whether the Ministry and RoC, Mumbai, have received complaints on bogus companies involved in the scams related to irrigation, public works department of Maharashtra as well as that related to Maharashtra Sadan.

There have been allegations of irregularities in various irrigation projects apart from those in award of certain PWD works, including in the construction of Maharashtra Sadan, the state government's guest house in the national capital.

When asked whether a list of 300 companies was submitted to the Ministry in 2012-13, Jaitley said, "these complaints account for approximately 182 such companies, of which action has been taken against 77 in respect of non-compliance of provisions of the Companies Act."

"In the remaining companies, examination of documents/ scrutiny is being carried (out) by the respective Registrar of Companies", he said in a written reply. The queries were asked by Kirit Somaiya, a BJP MP from Maharashtra.

PTI