CBI Takes Action Against HECL's Avijit Ghosh in Corruption Case

The CBI has filed a corruption case against Avijit Ghosh, former chairman of HECL, for alleged irregularities in a skill development project with CNIITMASH. Ghosh and others allegedly conspired to cheat the government by manipulating an Expression of Interest and misusing grant funds intended for skill training engineers.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged a corruption case against Avijit Ghosh, the former chairman and managing director of Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd (HECL), according to official sources on Monday.

Ghosh faces serious allegations of irregularities in establishing a centre of excellence for skill development in coordination with CNIITMASH, a Russian joint-stock company. The CBI asserts that Ghosh, along with other conspirators, entered into a criminal plan with CNIITMASH between 2015 and 2019 to defraud the government through a manipulated Expression of Interest process.

Following a year-long preliminary investigation, the CBI registered an FIR, citing criminal conspiracy under the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The scheme, launched by the Centre in November 2014, aimed to enhance the competitiveness of India's Capital Goods Sector. Under this scheme, the government was to offer up to 80% grant-in-aid for setting up Common Engineering Facility Centres (CEFCs). However, the CBI's investigation revealed a series of irregularities, including non-transparent EOI processes and misappropriation of funds.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)