ARFAT KHAN
Jammu: R.L.Tickoo under whose tenure the script of sensational e-challan equipment fraud was drafted in the beginning of year 2018 perhaps earned the distinction of lone MD with longest tenure in the history of Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) since its formation in Nov 28, 1975 owing to his very close proximity with corridors of power.
The clout and aura of MD SICOP chair can be gauged from the fact that whosoever remained the CM of state but he/she personally know the name of person heading this institute of nectar and Tickoo who was appointed by Omar’s government in July 18th, 2012 exhibit extraordinary acumen in managing this ever verdant chair even during the PDP-BJP coalition Govt until he was removed on Jan 3rd, 2019 by the Governor administration exactly after five months when this scandal hit headlines in media.
Among all 18 MD who had served prior to Tickoo posting in SICOP, the later even broken record of his predecessor the great B.S. Dua by relishing six and half years tenure.
The intensity of fraud in purchase of e-challan equipments where everything was fudged from tender, documents and hand held e-challan machines clearly indicts that those managing affairs in SICOP enjoys full political and administrative patronage, said an officer of SICOP preferring anonymity.
Hold your breath as this e-challan machines scandal is just a tip of ice berg, there are several such scandals which are lying in the cupboard of SICOP, he added.
Interestingly, when the officers of traffic police were testing the efficiency of procured machines, the authority in SICOP without waiting for their feedback reports quickly made payment of 40 lakh to the vendor. This despite the fact that yet the police headquarter had not released payment to the SICOP, said sources.
The way huge amount was released to the supplier without waiting for the quality test report of e-challan equipments attributed to involvement of those managing the affairs in SICOP as well as some official of police headquarter, alleged a senior traffic police officer.
The tender for purchase of the devices was issued in 2016. SICOP emerged as the lowest bidder and agreed to supply the equipment from a Noida-based company M/s Vehant Technology at a cost of Rs 20,100 per piece.
Interestingly, when the purchase order was issued by the police headquarters in March 2018, the SICOP fudged the tender formalities and machines were purchased from a favorite Hyderabad-based company namely M/s Vision Technology at a whooping cost of Rs 2, 21,350 per piece which is actually 14 times higher than the cost of one machines.
How Tickoo can feign ignorance pertaining to fudging of tender documents, letter heads of firm and alarming alteration of price from 20, 100 to 2,21,350 per piece, said sources adding “ Only an insane man will script such an ill managed fraudulent purchase of equipments”
The Governor administration must order in-depth scrutiny of all major works executed during the tenure of Tickoo, said an officer of crime branch preferring anonymity.