BMTC scam: Pressure for CID probe intensifies

Bengaluru: The scams in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are now coming to light. In the last one year, more than 20 forgery files have come to light and it is suspected that influential people are also involved. Along with this, the scam is gaining intensity, and in this backdrop, there is a clamour in the BMTC sector that an investigation should be done by an organization like CID or Lokayukta.

Several crores of rupees are estimated in various types of tender and license renewal and retender including commercial shops, parking spaces, toilets, apartment flats under BMTC. It was found that money has been misused. Not one, not two, but more than 20 such files (including the current one) have been copied by the signatures of previous three to four managing directors.

Going one step further, the investigation shows that some influential people are also involved in this scam. Meanwhile, three FIRs have been registered against the accused and eight people have been suspended so far. Apart from this, the expected level of progress is not seen in the investigation of the case. As usual, half of the accused’s salary is being deposited into the account every month effortlessly.

Signatures of MDs in many departments have been forged for three consecutive years. It involves a team of officers at various levels starting from the Chief Traffic Manager (Commercial). In this case, transparent investigation at the departmental level is doubtful. Therefore, some officials of BMTC who did not want to be named, and transport employees’ organizations are insisting that there is a need to investigate the scam by any investigative agency outside the organisation.

The forgery case is a continuation of the KSRTC Employees Housing Co-operative Society scam. Here too, the officials themselves have forged the signatures of the MDs. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the matter by the CID or the Lokayukta, said Chandrasekhar, president of the Transport Employees

Union.

‘The same authorities fired hundreds of workers when transport workers took to the streets earlier for their rights. Several cases have not been resolved even after a year has passed. On the other hand, a team of officers who committed forgery and looted dozens of places are suspended and given half salary. Why this attitude? The Transport Minister will be personally met and requested to order a thorough investigation into the scam. We have already asked for the time. We are yet to get’, Chandrasekhar said. “There is a feeling that there is no chance of escape here because the signatures of the MDs themselves have been forged. However, the investigation needs to be more intensive. If the current trend continues, it will prove that senior officials are also involved. Those who have worked and are working as Managing Director in BMTC should take it as a prestige. In addition, the organization is collecting information about the scam. It will be a job that will bring pressure on the minister as well,’’ said HV Ananth Subbarao, president of the joint action committee of KSRTC employees.