Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

CB-CID team collects samples near pillars

By Karthik Subramanian

Photo: K. Pichumani

The Chennai Corporation flyover at the Peters Road-Conran Smith Road junction was taken up for inspection by the CB-CID on Thursday. The pit was dug up reportedly to study the steel rods used in the foundation.

CHENNAI MARCH 27. An on-site inspection of three flyovers constructed during the earlier DMK regime was conducted by the CB-CID personnel today. The personnel dug deep pits adjacent the pillars of the flyovers to facilitate the technical team from the Anna University to collect samples.

The sample-collection exercise was conducted at the flyovers near the Gandhi Mandapam-Lattice Bridge Road and Peters Road-Conran Smith Road junction. Reportedly, the inspection team was looking at the quality of steel rods used for pile foundation and also whether the piles were dropped to the specified depth.

It may be recalled that one of the major allegations in the construction of the mini-flyovers was the use of sub-standard steel rods in place of CRS Tiscon bars specified in original tenders.

The case was registered by the CB-CID soon after the AIADMK came to power in 2001. The former Mayor, M. K. Stalin, was cited as the main accused while the former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, and his erstwhile Cabinet colleagues — K. Ponmudi, and Ko.Si.Mani, besides two former Chief Secretaries and two other serving IAS officers were also cited among the accused in the FIR registered on June 29, 2001. This led to the arrest of Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Stalin under controversial circumstances.

Though more than 150 witnesses, including several Corporation officials, were examined by the police in connection with the case, the enquiry had not progressed for more than a year leading to doubts over the charges. But, according to sources, the enquiry is in its concluding stage and charge sheets would be filed "within a month". "The stumbling block in the case was inspection of the pile foundation and sampling the steel used in construction. This will be the major evidence when the charge sheet is filed," an official, who coordinated the inspection on Thursday, said.

The charges are for offences under 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury), 420 (cheating and thereby dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or by banker, merchant or agent, etc) IPC and sections 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

Two committees from Highways department and Highways Research Centre are likely to present their opinion in the case.

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