An FIR has been filed against the former Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) chairman and the current additional chief secretary (home), Rajeev Swaroop, former RIICO managing director Urmila Rajoria, Om Metals Infra Ltd director CP Kothari and seven others for allegedly causing a loss of about Rs 200 crore to the state government.

 

The FIR was filed in Jaipur on March 15 following a court (ACJM-7) order on a petition filed by one Sitaram Agarwal under sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust of public servant), 380 (theft), 166 (public servant disobeying law) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. Counsel for the petitioner Sunil Vashishta said RIICO had allotted a plot (SP 818 (II) at Vishwakarma Industrial Area in Sikar Road to M/s Pratap Rajasthan Copper Foils and Laminates Ltd, a joint venture with RIICO, on February 10, 1981.

 

According to the allotment conditions, the company had to start production during a stipulated time. But in violation of conditions, the company failed to begin any construction or production on the land. As per rules, RIICO had to cancel the allotment for violation of the conditions.

 

The petition alleged that the then senior DGM RIICO S K Sharma transferred a part of the said land of 56,690 square meters to another company M/s Om Metals Infotech Pvt Ltd as part of a criminal conspiracy.

 

A NOC to the effect was issued on November 22, 2006. The accused officials had also waived off crores of rupees due to RIICO for retention charges and outstanding loans from the original allottee.

 

It was also alleged that the officials in connivance with the company had also destroyed the original records of land allotment.

 

When the petitioner approached RIICO seeking a copy of records of the original land allotment, he was informed that the records were not traceable. The petitioner further alleged that it was a deliberate action on the part of RIICO as it had not issued any search notice or filed any missing report. The petitioner had alleged that these officials worked hand in glove with the promoters to give permission for the subdivision and reconstitution of the records to favor Om Metals Infotech Pvt Ltd at the infrastructure development committee (IDC) under the chairmanship of the then RICCO chairman, Rajeev Swaroop, on October 8, 2018.