Gomti River Front Project: CBI Files FIR Against 189 People For Multi-Crore Scam In Ex-CM Akhilesh Yadav’s Dream Project

NEW DELHI: In a multi-crore scam involving the Gomti River Project, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a complaint against 189 people, including governmental workers, private individuals, firms, and companies. The CBI also searched 40 locations in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kolkata.

The project was carried out by the previous Samajwadi Party government, although the complaint does not name former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as accused. This is the CBI’s second FIR relating to the project.

On July 2, CBI registered a case on the request of the Uttar Pradesh Government and with further notification from the Government of India under relevant Sections of the IPC and PC Act against 16 public servants, including then Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers of the Uttar Pradesh Government, and 173 private persons/firms/companies on allegations of irregularities/illegalities committed in the implementation of various works worth Rs 407 crore (approx) relating to “Gomti River Channelization Project” and “Gomti River Front Development Project” by Irrigation Department.

The CBI took over the investigation after the current Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh ordered an investigation into the Gomti riverfront beautification project.

The Uttar Pradesh government had requested an investigation into “criminal intent” irregularities committed by the state’s Department of Irrigation in the implementation of the Gomti River Channelisation Project and the Gomti River Front Development.

The case was previously filed at Police Station Gomti Nagar in Lucknow. In its report dated May 16, 2017, a state-appointed committee led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Alok Kumar Singh found prima facie irregularities in the project.

On Monday, searches were being carried out at around 40 locations, including Lucknow, Sitapur, Raebareilly, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, Agra, Bulandshahar, Etah, Moradabad, Meerut, Etawah (all in Uttar Pradesh) and Alwar (Rajasthan), Kolkata (West Bengal), at the premises of the accused, including the then Chief Engineers, then Superintending Engineers, the then Executive Engineer, the then Assistant Engineer and the private contractors, firms and companies. 

Incriminating documents and articles were found during the raid.

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