Express News Service
CHENNAI: Authorities must recover money from people who fraudulently claimed compensation under the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway project or face a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, the Madras High Court has warned.
The accused persons allegedly falsified records and received crores of rupees to acquire land in Kancheepuram district. In February 2020, the court ordered government authorities to identify false claims, but the order was ignored. A contempt of court petition was filed and the authorities were directed to take note of it. But they failed, so they had to go to court.
On Monday, when the accused officials appeared in court, Justice M. Dhandapani said their investigation was not satisfactory. “It’s about public money. It must be recovered from the false claimants. Public money must be protected,” he said, warning that the court may have to order a CBI probe if appropriate action is not taken.
IAS officer P Ponniah, who served as Kancheepuram district collector, claimed that the collector is not connected with the payment of compensation for state highway projects. Senior counsel P Wilson, who represented him, said the responsibility lies with the Special District Revenue Officer (DRO) appointed for land acquisition.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) P Kumaresan, representing the CB-CID, which is probing the scam, said the investigation is still on and about Rs 4 crore has been recovered so far.
The judge adjourned the case to December 2 for further hearing. The contempt complaint was filed by R Rajendran.