₹182.98 Crore CSMCL Manpower Overtime Scam: EOW/ACB Files Chargesheet Against 12 Accused
Raipur
The State Economic Offences Wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) on Monday filed a chargesheet before a special court in connection with the alleged ₹182.98 crore manpower overtime payment scam in the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL).
The agency named 12 accused in its first chargesheet, including Anwar Dhebar, Naveen Pratap Singh Tomar, Tijau Ram Nirmalkar, Abhishek Singh, Neeraj Kumar Chaudhary, Ajay Lohia, Ajit Dardale, Amit Prabhakar Salunke, Amit Mittal, N Uday Rao, Rajiv Dwivedi and Sanjeev Jain.
According to the investigation, irregular payments were allegedly made between the financial years 2019-20 and 2023-24 under the heads of overtime, bonus, payment for four additional working days and related service charges. The probe found that excess payments amounting to nearly ₹182.98 crore were disbursed to manpower agencies engaged by CSMCL.
Investigators stated that the funds were meant for employees working at CSMCL liquor outlets, but were allegedly diverted through inflated bills and fraudulent payment arrangements for commission payouts and financial gains to companies and associated persons. Statements from company representatives, CSMCL officials, shop-level employees and witnesses linked to cash transactions reportedly indicated that the money never actually reached the workers.
The investigation further revealed that around ₹101.20 crore was shown as overtime payments, ₹12.21 crore as bonus, ₹54.46 crore towards four additional working days and ₹15.11 crore as service charges. The alleged excess payments were made to agencies including Sumit Facilities, Prime One Workforce, A-to-Z Infra Services, Alert Commandos and Eagle Hunter Solutions.
The EOW/ACB also referred to the seizure of ₹28.80 lakh cash on November 29, 2023, calling it a key link in the alleged commission network. According to investigators, the cash was meant to be delivered to Naveen Pratap Singh Tomar as commission linked to payments cleared for Eagle Hunter Solutions Limited and Alert Commandos Private Limited. The roles of Tijau Ram Nirmalkar and Abhishek Singh also reportedly surfaced during the cash delivery operation.
Officials said further investigation is underway regarding the involvement of other individuals, utilisation of the alleged illegal funds and related financial transactions. The agency indicated that additional legal action may follow based on fresh evidence gathered during the probe.
