FIR against UPPCL official for duping contractor

The FIR has been registered under various sections of the IPC,including fogery,at the Gomti Nagar police station in Lucknow.

“Sharma took money on the pretext that the project would be cleared after 10 per cent of the total amount is sent to senior government officials. I gave him Rs 50 lakh — which I borrowed from my friends and relatives — in two installments last July,but till date no contract was given to me. I have come to know that there was no such government plan for constructions in Pilibhit,” said Verma,zila panchayat member from Kaserganj ward number 48 in Bahraich.

He added that he gave Rs 18 lakh to Sharma at his house in Bareilly and Rs 32 lakh in Lucknow.

“Sharma was sitting in a Bolero parked outside the UPPCL office in Lucknow. I gave him a bag containing Rs 32 lakh,” said Verma adding that no government official or his friend was present on both occasions when he gave money to Sharma.

“For the last two days,I have been getting threatening calls from two cellphone numbers. The callers identified themselves as associates of Sharma and directed me not to ask for the money from him otherewise they would harm me. I have given both the phone numbers to the police,” said Verma.

Station Officer,Gomti Nagar,Manoj Kumar Mishra said: “It would be part of investigation to verify how money was given to Sharma by the contractor.”

Sharma could not be contacted for comments,his phone was switched off.

Samajwadi Party Bahraich district president,Ram Harsh Yadav said,Avadesh Kumar Verma was a member of the Kranti Rath Yatra organised by Samajwadi Party.