ED seizes documents after raid on BBMP chief engineer’s office in borewell scam

BENGALURU: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Engineer’s office and gathering crucial documents into the alleged borewell scam and has initiated an investigation.

The raid is linked to the 2016 borewell scam, which involved alleged irregularities in the drilling of borewells and setting up reverse osmosis plants. It was alleged that around Rs 400 crore out of a total of Rs 960 crore were misappropriated.

The ED has collected documents related to various projects and has asked the BBMP to provide detailed balance sheets and information on projects undertaken over the past 10 years. The BBMP is cooperating with the investigation.

A complaint was filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau on June 16, 2020, regarding the scam. The ED raided the BBMP Chief Engineer’s office as well as five other zonal offices, and collected various documents and information. The officials also questioned the assistant engineers and assistant executive enginers who worked on the project during the period when the scam occurred.

During the raid, ED officials collected important documents and electronic gadgets from six offices related to BBMP under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED has also sought information on white-topping road works undertaken by the BBMP between 2014 and 2024, including details of bills paid and funds allocated.

BBMP Chief Engineer Prahalad stated that he and other officials are cooperating with the investigation and providing all necessary documents and information. The ED investigation is focused on alleged irregularities and misappropriation of funds in various BBMP projects.