The Surat CID (Crime) has made significant strides in a drinking water works scam by arresting ten individuals, including government officials. The investigation uncovered that 90 projects intended for water supply in tribal areas were never executed, resulting in the siphoning of approximately Rs9 crore.
At the center of this scheme is Dalpat Patel, an executive engineer from Navsari district, who is accused of abusing his authority to approve false bills. The implicated officials and contractors violated official tendering rules by arbitrarily issuing tenders, leading to substantial losses for the government treasury.
The probe revealed that a total of 163 bills were approved by the accused, with 90 of these identified as fraudulent. The case highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability in government projects aimed at serving underprivileged communities.