Suspicious transactions worth around Rs 90 lakh were also detected in solid waste management department.
Now, the scam has swelled to Rs3.47 crore and the amount may increase further.
TOI on Thursday had reported suspicious contracts of Rs1.5 crore had come to fore from health department and two more departments — library and birth & death registration departments.
Additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi and assistant commissioner (general administration department) Mahesh Dhamecha investigated and identified that contractor Padmakar ‘Kolba’ Sakode (55) prepared bogus contracts and drew another Rs1.4 crore from library and birth & death registration departments.
Already, the civic body has registered complaint with Sadar police station against five firms registered in the name of Sakode and his family members.
Joshi and Dhamecha reportedly asked Sakode to repay the amount. “Sakode gave two cheques of Rs52 lakh and Rs50 lakh on Thursday and expressed inability to pay more,” an official told TOI.
Sakode has reportedly prepared bogus contracts from library and birth & death registration departments in the name of sixth firm — Shree Ganesh Sai Services. Owner is a separate person but Sakode is reportedly operating the agency.
Initially, Sakode had repaid Rs67,08,630 41 pertaining to 41 bogus contracts. These contracts were awarded and payments disbursed between October 7, 2020, and July 31 this year.
In the 90 more bogus contracts in the health department, some files are from April 2020 onwards.
The NMC has started investigation into contracts below Rs3 lakh awarded from April 1, 2020, to till date. Chances of similar irregularities happening before April 1, 2020, cannot be ruled out.
NMC officials also said suspicious payments of Rs90 lakh came to fore from solid waste management department. Scrutiny is going on.
Two days after receiving complaint from the NMC, Sadar police registered an offence against Sakode, his wife Sushma (50), elder brother Manohar (70) and nephew Atul (40) under section 420 of IPC.
Verification of provision of fund and payment disbursed is pending for some major departments like public works department (PWD), education etc.
A six-member committee headed by additional municipal commissioner Deepak Kumar Meena has started investigation into all contracts awarded from April 1, 2020, to till date. Contracts below Rs 3 lakh are given through quotation or fixed rate contract.
The committee is also likely to investigate into contracts above Rs3 lakh which requires tendering.
BJP corporator Vijay Zalke in a press conference alleged involvement of higher officials in the scam. “Detailed inquiry should be done in all expenditures done in the name of Covid-19 pandemic. The NMC isn’t aware of the whereabouts of materials purchased for Covid care centre which never started operation on Katol road,” he said.
.