<p>Bengaluru: The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/enforcement-directorate">Enforcement Directorate </a>(ED) sleuths on Tuesday launched simultaneous raids on multiple wings in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bbmp">BBMP</a>) head office at NR Square in central Bengaluru in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Rs 400 crore in the civic body's Rs 970-crore project to dig borewells and build RO units during 2016-19.</p><p>More than two ED teams conducted searches at the BBMP’s chief engineer and executive engineers’ offices in the main branch, and the raid is ongoing. Sources noted that the raid may go on for the next two days. </p><p><strong>Triggered by a complaint</strong></p><p>Former corporator NR Ramesh had filed a 343-page complaint with the now-dissolved Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2019 about the alleged misappropriation and corruption. </p><p>The complaint pertains to the BBMP's borewell project commissioned in 2016. Ramesh claimed that BBMP released Rs 970 crore for drilling borewells, constructing RO units, and laying sewerage pipes in 66 wards between 2016 and 2019. He alleged that over Rs 400 crore was misappropriated and pocketed by BBMP officials, contractors, and public representatives.</p><p>Ramesh had named the then chief engineers, joint commissioners, and engineers of five BBMP zones (Mahadevapura, RR Nagar, Yelahanka, Bommanahalli, and Dasarahalli).</p><p><strong>Crores swindled</strong> </p><p>The ED entered the investigations as the corruption allegations leveled against BBMP officials involved crores of rupees. The premier investigating agency took up the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in November 2022 and has now intensified the probe. </p><p>According to the sources, the ED entered investigations after the Urban Development Department (UDD) conducted an internal probe and prepared a report following ACB’s directions, which reportedly found the irregularities. </p><p><strong>What are the allegations?</strong></p><p>Ramesh claimed that between 2016 and 2019, BBMP released Rs 671.1 crore for digging 9,588 borewells and Rs 156.1 crore for building 976 RO units in five BBMP zones. However, Ramesh alleged that only 8,426 borewells and 697 RO units were found at the sites across 66 wards in five zones. </p><p>He alleged that the BBMP spent more money on carrying out borewell digging and RO works than the actual estimated cost. </p><p><strong>Timeline</strong> </p><p><strong>Project in question:</strong> Misappropriation in borewell digging and RO unit building</p><p><strong>Time period:</strong> 2016 and 2019</p><p><strong>Funds released:</strong> 970 crore </p><p><strong>Misappropriation allegation:</strong> 400 crore</p><p><strong>First complaint:</strong> 2019 before ACB</p><p><strong>FIR registered:</strong> June 16, 2020</p><p><strong>ECIR by ED:</strong> November, 2022</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/enforcement-directorate">Enforcement Directorate </a>(ED) sleuths on Tuesday launched simultaneous raids on multiple wings in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bbmp">BBMP</a>) head office at NR Square in central Bengaluru in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Rs 400 crore in the civic body's Rs 970-crore project to dig borewells and build RO units during 2016-19.</p><p>More than two ED teams conducted searches at the BBMP’s chief engineer and executive engineers’ offices in the main branch, and the raid is ongoing. Sources noted that the raid may go on for the next two days. </p><p><strong>Triggered by a complaint</strong></p><p>Former corporator NR Ramesh had filed a 343-page complaint with the now-dissolved Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2019 about the alleged misappropriation and corruption. </p><p>The complaint pertains to the BBMP's borewell project commissioned in 2016. Ramesh claimed that BBMP released Rs 970 crore for drilling borewells, constructing RO units, and laying sewerage pipes in 66 wards between 2016 and 2019. He alleged that over Rs 400 crore was misappropriated and pocketed by BBMP officials, contractors, and public representatives.</p><p>Ramesh had named the then chief engineers, joint commissioners, and engineers of five BBMP zones (Mahadevapura, RR Nagar, Yelahanka, Bommanahalli, and Dasarahalli).</p><p><strong>Crores swindled</strong> </p><p>The ED entered the investigations as the corruption allegations leveled against BBMP officials involved crores of rupees. The premier investigating agency took up the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in November 2022 and has now intensified the probe. </p><p>According to the sources, the ED entered investigations after the Urban Development Department (UDD) conducted an internal probe and prepared a report following ACB’s directions, which reportedly found the irregularities. </p><p><strong>What are the allegations?</strong></p><p>Ramesh claimed that between 2016 and 2019, BBMP released Rs 671.1 crore for digging 9,588 borewells and Rs 156.1 crore for building 976 RO units in five BBMP zones. However, Ramesh alleged that only 8,426 borewells and 697 RO units were found at the sites across 66 wards in five zones. </p><p>He alleged that the BBMP spent more money on carrying out borewell digging and RO works than the actual estimated cost. </p><p><strong>Timeline</strong> </p><p><strong>Project in question:</strong> Misappropriation in borewell digging and RO unit building</p><p><strong>Time period:</strong> 2016 and 2019</p><p><strong>Funds released:</strong> 970 crore </p><p><strong>Misappropriation allegation:</strong> 400 crore</p><p><strong>First complaint:</strong> 2019 before ACB</p><p><strong>FIR registered:</strong> June 16, 2020</p><p><strong>ECIR by ED:</strong> November, 2022</p>
