Firm helping Libyan war victims taken for a ride

A central Delhi-based firm in contract with the Libyan government was allegedly cheated of Rs 5.5 crore by a local associate with ‘fake and exaggerated’ hotel and transport bills.

The contract was for providing medical treatment to Libyan citizens and those injured in the Libyan Civil War.

Over 300 persons from the country have undergone treatment in Delhi.
A sister concern of EL-Yasa General Contracting is a registered overseas recruiting agency, registered with Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.
They have also been recruiting medical and para-medical staff for government hospitals in Libya for more than two decades. 

“The managing director of EL-Yasa General Contracting claims to have been approached by Libyan government due to the background of health services they provided. The Libyan government signed a contract after formal inspection of the hospitals and hotels,” said a police officer.

Medical treatment
As per the agreement, the Libyan government was to send its citizens for medical treatment in India and EL-Yasa General Contracting would facilitate the patients’ visit.

Since a large number of Libyan patients were expected to arrive, the complainant was looking for a professional service provider to assist with logistic services.
It included services like air tickets, transport and hotel rooms.

“They later signed a contract with Gurgaon-based Fore Representations and Travels,” the officer added.

Two groups of about 210 Libyan patients were the first to arrive in March 2012. They were checked into hotels at Dwarka and Janakpuri.

The complainant claims that payment was being made to the associate firm without necessary proof of the services provided.

It is now alleged that crores of rupees were claimed from EL-Yasa General Contracting on the basis of fake and ‘highly exaggerated’ bills.

When checked by the complainant, the hotels said that they charge Rs 7,000-7,500 per room per night. But the Gurgaon firm had allegedly raised invoice of Rs 14,000-16,000 per room per night.

“There is apprehension that the accused caused huge financial benefits to the tune of Rs 5.5 crore,” EL-Yasa General Contracting’s MD stated in the complaint to police.
 A case under Indian Penal Code was filed with economic offences wing police station last week.