LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb 27: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted a raid against Ram Pukar Ram, the assistant engineer at Jharkhand Rural Development Department in connection with a tender scam.
The ED raided his flat numbered 401, at Dwarikesh Apartment, Peace Road, Behind BIT Extension, Lalpur, Ranchi.
The raid was conducted days after the agency raided chief engineer Virendra Ram and arrested him. His name had cropped up during the investigation which was further confirmed during the questioning of Virendra Ram. He is closely associated with Virendra Ram.
Ram Pukar Ram is a member of the tender committee of the department that finalizes high-value tenders. It is alleged that he used to reject bonafide tender papers of the bidders who were even ready to work below the quoted price.
Instead, works were allotted to selected contractors above the quoted price allegedly as per the instruction of his seniors and political masters.
He joined the service as Assistant Engineer, under the Water Resource Department. When he was posted as Assistant Engineer under Rural Department (Special Division) in Gumla, he was put under suspension in June 2011 on the charge of committing irregularities. A bridge situated at Koyal river at Kamdara Block had collapsed due to heavy rain and the said bridge was inspected by a team. The bridge collapsed due to negligence during the construction and inferior material and the bridge was constructed under his supervision.
Notably, Virendra Ram is the kingpin of the scam and he accumulated assets worth over Rs 125 Crore through corruption.
