Truck parking terminal: CBI registers corruption case against port officials

The case was registered against PI Jambert Mathuram, managing partner of Immanuel & Co, Tuticorin, along with some unknown public servants of VO Chidambaranar Port Trust. 

Officials awarded the contracts knowing full well that he did not have the required experience or qualification for being awarded the contracts worth many crores of rupees and the contracts ended in substandard work which was not as per specification. The contracts were not completed as per the schedule for which no liquidation damages were claimed by the port officials in order to favour the firm, thereby leading to a wrongful loss to the VOC Port Trust and corresponding wrongful gain to them, the CBI said in the FIR, registered on Friday. 

According to CBI, Immanuel & Co, failed to complete the widening and strengthening of South Breakwater approach road as per schedule. Another contract which pertained to widening and strengthening of VOC Port Road to TTPS Roundana from 4 lanes to 6 lanes worth Rs.9.9 crore was not completed on time and the excess work was granted to the firm without claiming the liquidation damages. 

In the contract pertaining to the construction of truck parking terminal at port land, the first tender process, in which many firms participated, was cancelled and the second tender was called to favour the firm, the CBI said. While executing the contract worth Rs 23.69 crore, the firm had obtained dredged materials, with the help of port officials for filling up the truck parking area and a substandard work was carried out. Instead of auctioning the dredged materials, the port officials had diverted the same to fill up the area thus helping the firm and causing revenue loss to the port.