GUWAHATI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Guwahati has registered a major corruption case involving the construction of a strategic high-altitude road in Arunachal Pradesh. The FIR alleges a criminal conspiracy that resulted in a wrongful loss of over ₹24.19 crore to the Government of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The Project: A Strategic Border Link
The investigation centers on the construction of a High Altitude Hill Road from Doginala to Gau (KM 0.000 to 15.320) in the Upper Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. This project is a critical component of the “Indo China Border Road-II” (ICBR-II) scheme under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The contract was awarded to M/s Indo Engineering Project Corporation in December 2020 at a value of ₹121.97 crore.
The Alleged Fraud: “Paper Progress” vs. Reality
According to the FIR, the scam involved the submission and approval of fabricated bills for work that was never actually performed.
- False Claims: The contractors allegedly raised false bills totaling ₹24,19,25,270/-, claiming that 8.99 km of intensive earthwork, including excavation in soil and hard rock, had been completed.
- Collusion: NHIDCL officials and engineers reportedly submitted false inspection reports and Interim Payment Certificates (IPC), certifying these fraudulent claims as genuine.
- Wrongful Payment: Despite the work not being executed as claimed, the then Executive Director of NHIDCL, Itanagar, approved the final payments.
Due to the persistent lack of physical progress, NHIDCL eventually terminated the contract in August 2024
