₹816.87 crore scam in BBMP projects; DPR preparation also illegal

 A massive financial irregularity of ₹816.87 crore has been uncovered in BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) projects, as highlighted in the 2022-23 audit report. The report reveals serious lapses in bill payments and the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), with ₹4.75 crore worth of invoices flagged for discrepancies. Allegations suggest that certain officials have been awarding contracts under fictitious names and fraudulently withdrawing funds. The BBMP budget for this segment was ₹886 crore, of whichh ₹816.87 crore was disputed due to non-compliance and irregularities. Authorities have been directed to recover ₹69.17 crore, but enforcement remains weak. The report also highlights ₹25.65 crore in tax deductions (GST and TDS) that were not remitted to the government, further amplifying the losses. A significant red flag was raised over a contract awarded to PJB Engineers Pvt. Ltd. For ₹24.68 crore. Additional work was assigned without government approval, leading to an objection of ₹3.41 crore. Moreover, ₹222.60 crore was disbursed to various government entities without proper utilization certificates. BBMP also failed to collect ₹86.56 crore in fees for OFC (Optical Fiber Cable) installations. Additionally, discrepancies in IFMS software suggest duplicate bill payments under a single job code, raising concerns of fund mismanagement. Despite these findings, no strict action has been taken against the accused officials, allowing corruption to thrive unchecked.