Guwahati: The CBI has unearthed a racket allegedly involved in pilfering chemicals of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) used in drilling operations in Sivasagar district.
According to the CBI, the racket, comprising some employees and transport contractors of the ONGC, allegedly used to pilfer and adulterate chemicals while transporting it from the ONGC warehouses to different drilling and production sites at Geleki, Rudrasagar and Lakwa areas in Sivasagar district.
The pilfered chemicals include potassium chloride, partially hydrolysed poly acrylamide, polyanionic cellulose application, XC polymer, xyline, tyline, spading flow, contessa, linseed oil, caustic soda, citric acid and SX pal.
An official source said the CBI has registered a case in this connection at its anti-corruption branch here after the pilferage was detected during a joint surprise check conducted by the CBI along with vigilance officials of the ONGC.
The case was registered under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 477A (falsification of account) of the IPC and Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
During the surprise check it was found that the trucks deployed/hired by the ONGC for transportation of chemicals from its warehouses and central store to the drilling/production sites divert the consignment to a private warehouse at Dirikapar allegedly owned by Babul Dihingia alias Babul Gogoi where the materials were manipulated before making the site delivery.
Apart from Dihingia, the CBI has named 10 persons in the FIR who are ONGC employees Kalyan Ghosh, Marison S. and L. Buragohain, transport contractors Motlib Ali, Sanjeeb Borgohain, Mohendra Gogoi, Paban Gohain, Kalyan Dutta and drivers Kiran Saikia and Dimbeswar Gogoi. "In this way the racket is suspected to have pilfered chemicals worth several lakhs of rupees," the source said.
"Possibility of involvement of more persons in the racket cannot be ruled out as investigation is continuing," he said. Recently, the CBI had arrested deputy general manager of ONGC A. K. Singh while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a contractor for passing his pending bills.
