ACB files cases against BBMP contractors, officials

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths have registered cases against BBMP staff and contractors for allegedly misappropriating Rs 934 crore by creating fake bills in the name of non-existent pourakarmikas.

Recently, the Karnataka State Commission for Safaikarmacharies (KSCS) conducted a survey and had submitted a report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pointing out the misappropriation.

The Urban Development Department collected a report from BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad and directed the ACB to register a case.

The sleuths have sought documents of financial misappropriation from the KSCS.

According to KSCS findings, bills were submitted to the BBMP claiming that around 19,000 pourakarmikas were employed by 87 contractors to execute projects to clean the city between 2006-16. Based on bills, the BBMP had made payments.

Around 12,400 pourakarmikas serve on a contract basis, while 6,600 fake bills were created in the name of non-existent pourakarmikas to misappropriate Rs 550 crore.