CBI Files Bribery Case Against Second-Largest Electoral Bond Purchaser of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd

Megha Engineering has emerged as the second-largest purchaser of electoral bonds. It is reported that eight officials of the NISP and NMDC, as well as two officials of MECON, were named in the FIR for allegedly accepting a bribe of around Rs 78 lakh in facilitating the clearance of bills amounting to Rs 174 crore for Megha Engineering in connection with work related to the Jagdalpur integrated steel plant. According to data released by the Election Commission on March 21, Megha Engineering donated the highest amount, approximately Rs 586 crore, to the BJP. Additionally, the company donated Rs 195 crore to BRS, Rs 85 crore to DMK, and Rs 37 crore to YSRCP.

Other political parties such as TDP, Congress, JD-S, Jana Sena Party, and JD-U also reportedly received donations ranging from Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore from Megha Engineering. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a preliminary enquiry on August 10, 2023, regarding alleged bribery in a Rs 315-crore project related to the intake well, pump house, and cross-country pipeline works at the integrated steel plant in Jagdalpur, which was awarded to Megha Engineering. Based on the findings of this preliminary enquiry, a recommendation was made to register a regular case into the alleged bribery, which was subsequently filed on March 31. The CBI has named a list of officials from NISP and NMDC Ltd, as well as MECON Ltd, who allegedly received bribes in connection with these projects.

These officials include retired executive director Prashant Dash, director (production) DK Mohanty, DGM PK Bhuyan, DM Naresh Babu, and several others. Additionally, two officials from MECON Ltd, AGM (contracts) Sanjeev Sahay and DGM (contracts) K Illavarsu, are also implicated. The case also involves allegations against Subhash Chandra Sangras, general manager of Megha Engineering, and the company itself. Please note that this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.