New Delhi,24 Apr : The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge-sheet u/s 120 B r/w 420 IPC and Sec. 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988 in the Court of Special Judge-1, CBI, Ernakulam against a former Scientist, E1, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, Dy. Stores & Purchase Officer (Retd.), NIIST, Trivandrum and a Proprietor of a Chennai based firm dealing with Scientific Instruments.
The Investigation revealed that the Public Servants of NIIST Trivandrum, entered into conspiracy with the proprietor of private firm to cheat NIIST Trivandrum in the matter of award of contract for installation of Liquid Nitrogen Plant (LNP) at NIIST, Trivandrum. In furtherance to the conspiracy, tender was fraudulently issued without observing codal formalities in favour of a firm at Scotland, U.K.. The purchase order was issued on 11.3.1998 and it was found that they had installed a water cooled compressor for the LNP instead of air cooled compressor due to which the LNP could not be made operational. Without ensuring commissioning of the LNP, the public servants released payment to the parties. The LNP was not operational and NIIST continued to resort to purchase of Liquid Nitrogen from open market. A wrongful loss of Rs.24,31,667/- was caused to the NIIST Trivandrum.