Surat News: Rs 9 crore drinking water works scam uncovered in Navsari, 10 arrested

Surat: The Surat CID (Crime) has apprehended ten individuals, including several government officials, in connection with a significant drinking water works scam. The probe revealed that out of 90 proposed projects, none were executed. Despite this, approximately Rs 9 crore was misappropriated.
The scam involved diverting funds intended for water supply projects in tribal areas, with both officials and contractors playing a role in the scheme. Dalpat Patel, an executive engineer from Navsari district, has been identified as the main suspect. He is accused of abusing his authority to approve fraudulent bills.
The accused disregarded official tendering procedures, issuing tenders arbitrarily, which led to significant losses for the government. Investigations revealed that the accused approved 163 bills, out of which 90 were fraudulent.