NT Reporter
Panaji
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against two private contractors and two Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of contracts at the ASI Goa circle between 2022
and 2025.
The FIR names private contractors Chandrashekhar Yalawar and Shivanagouda Yalawar, and ASI officials Senior Conservation Assistant Suddamalla Sreekanth Reddy and the then Conservation Assistant S K Md Tausif. The CBI has also booked unidentified public servants and private persons in the case.
CBI said that Chandr-ashekhar and Shivanagouda were awarded 69 out of the 71 contracts or work orders through e-tendering. Other eligible tenderers were either excluded or the two contractors were not disqualified despite failing to meet technical bid requirements.
CBI said Reddy and Tausif, who were members of the Technical Evaluation Committee, allegedly showed undue favour in the awarding of these contracts.
According to the CBI, Tausif obtained undue advantage from Chandrashekhar in the form of flight tickets for himself and his wife in June
2023, amounting to Rs 18,020, for travel from Goa to Kolkata. Tausif also allegedly received Rs 8,850 on September 28, 2023,
and Rs 10,100 on November 28, 2023, credited to his account through GPay from Yalawar.
CBI said that Reddy obtained undue advantage in the form of a flight ticket for himself in April 2024, amounting to Rs 2,580, allegedly paid by Yalawar through a UPI transaction.
CBI said the acts of the accused prima facie disclose the commission of cognisable offences, including criminal conspiracy, obtaining undue advantage in lieu of official work, offences relating to bribing a public servant, and abetment of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. An FIR has accordingly been registered and further investigation is in progress.
