A firm that outsourced labourers to Essar Projects (India) Limited in Surat has alleged fraud to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore by the officials of the engineering and construction company.
Surendra Modi, the owner of the Surat-based labour outsourcing company, told police that he had been supplying labourers on contract to Essar Projects in Hazira since 1995. He has filed a cheating complaint against former HR head V L Rajyaguru among others with Hazira police station on Monday. Police registered offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy).
In his complaint, Modi alleged that he had submitted a bill of around Rs 16 crore for the services between 2007 and 2012. Essar officials, he said, paid Rs 13 crore through cheque and the remaining amount was pending. He was later denied the pending payment, he alleged.
Feeling cheated, Modi approached Surat district court and on directions of the court a complaint was filed in this connection against the accused at Hazira police station.
As per sources, he had to approach the local court after not getting a proper response from police initially. A A Vaidya of Surat district court a few days ago passed judgment directing the Surat police to register an offence over the complaint of the applicant.
Speaking with The Indian Express, inspector G S Patel said, “We have registered an offence and have sought details from the complainant against the accused. Currently, it is difficult to say anything in this matter as it is under investigation. We will also question the Essar officials and get details from their side. We will carry out free and fair investigation into the complaint and take steps accordingly.”
According to the FIR, “Apart from the regular labourers, Essar had, in 2007, demanded more labourers for a civil construction project from Modi. The company used to give a single amount of cheque and after keeping commission, Modi distributed remaining amount among the labourers as their monthly salaries. This continued for sometime. Later, the company started delaying the payment by 35 to 40 days and it then took up to two to three months. Modi contacted the company H R manager V L Rajyaguru, and complained about delay in the payment… he then cited financial issues.”
“Facing problems in giving salaries to the labourers, I took a bank loan of Rs 18 lakh,” said Modi in the complaint.
The FIR adds, “As per the work order bills, the amount surged to Rs 16.50 crore and company had paid Rs 13 crore. Modi demanded Rs 3.50 crore from the company; and the company responded with different excuses. Again in 2013, when Modi went to the company for pending dues, the company authorities told him that all the payment has been done. They later kicked him out of the office.”
Despite repeated attempts by The Indian Express, Essar officials did not give a response on the matter.