JODHPUR/BARMER — A massive corruption scandal involving the Jodhpur Discom in Barmer has come to light, uncovering a loot of approximately ₹9.50 crore between 2021 and 2024. An internal audit report has exposed a series of systemic irregularities, ranging from the purchase of equipment at seven times the market rate to the reporting of thousands of “fictional” tree cuttings in the desert.
Audit Report Suppressed for 20 Months
The audit report, which initially flagged these discrepancies on July 22, 2024, was reportedly suppressed by high-ranking officials for nearly 20 months. The details emerged only recently as pressure mounted to clear new bills for the firms involved.
Shocking Overpricing and Inflated Invoices
The report highlights a blatant disregard for public funds, with officials purchasing basic tools at astronomical prices:
- Electrical Testers: Market-priced at ₹75, these were purchased for ₹525 each.
- Drill Machines: Standard machines worth ₹2,500 were billed at ₹8,000.
“Fictional” Tree Cutting and Fake Infrastructure
Beyond overbilling for equipment, the audit found that several projects existed only on paper:
- The “Paper” Forest: In the arid region of Barmer, officials claimed to have pruned 1,10,998 trees to clear power lines—a figure described by auditors as geographically impossible given the local landscape.
- Substandard Earthing: In multiple installations, 10-foot pipes were supposed to be used for earthing. Instead, 2-to-3-foot fragments were buried, while the documentation falsely recorded full-depth installations. In several instances, the same transformer was photographed from different angles to claim multiple payments.
Five Senior Officials Under the Scanner
The “Expose Now” investigation identifies five key officials who allegedly masterminded the distribution of tenders to favored firms:
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- Ajay Mathur (Then SE): Overseeing 178 work orders totaling ₹1.75 crore.
- Sonaram Patel (SE/XEN): Involved in 83 work orders worth ₹38 lakh.
- Bhanwararam Chaudhary (XEN, Siwana): Alleged embezzlement in 50 orders worth ₹14.90 lakh.
- Mukesh Chhajed (XEN, Barmer): Involved in 36 orders worth ₹10.67 lakh.
- Metaram Chaudhary (XEN, Gudamalani): Alleged misappropriation in 30 orders worth ₹8.85 lakh.
Favoritism Toward Specific Firms
The report further reveals that three firms based in Bikaner—Rohini, Kamal Anand, and Nandini Enterprises—all owned by the same individual, were awarded tenders worth ₹5.25 crore. Shockingly, these firms received payments of over ₹6 lakh during the COVID-19 lockdowns for work that has no supporting records.
Current Status and Official Response
When questioned about the delay in taking action, Jodhpur Discom Secretary Amanullah Khan stated that the matter is currently “under process.”
While administrative charge sheets are expected, the scale of the scandal has led to calls for a more rigorous investigation to recover the misappropriated public funds and ensure that those responsible face criminal charges rather than mere departmental inquiries.
