Ex-Managing Director of Panaji Smart City Project Booked for Corruption

Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri, the former managing director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited, has been booked by Goa's Anti Corruption Branch for allegedly misappropriating Rs 82.87 lakh. The charges include unauthorised expenditures, consultant appointments, and manipulating financial documents. The case follows a high-level committee's investigation.

Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri, the former managing director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited, is under legal scrutiny. On Thursday, Goa police's Anti Corruption Branch booked him for allegedly misappropriating Rs 82.87 lakh, confirmed an official.

Charged under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Chaudhuri is accused of committing these offences between April 1, 2018, and September 30, 2020. His alleged activities include unauthorised expenditures and appointing multiple consultants for the same tasks, as per a complaint by then North Goa collector, Mamu Hage.

The high-level committee, which investigated the allegations, revealed that Chaudhuri's actions caused significant problems, delays, and irregularities in the Rs 200 crore smart city project. He is also accused of manipulating financial documents, including excess salary withdrawals and fraudulent credit card expenditures.

(With inputs from agencies.)