STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a much publicised Canal Power House Case, in which the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) had registered FIR 29/2003 against the then Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly, Ravish Trehan of M/S Trehan Industries and Ashok Kumar consultant, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice R. Sudhakar and Justice B.S Walia after hearing AAG Ajay Sharma for the State whereas Senior Advocate ZA Shah for the other side, set- aside the judgment of the Writ Court dated April 7, 2006 in OWP No.248/2005.
After hearing the counsel, the DB stated, “We direct a fresh opportunity of hearing by the independent Committee of Experts to the respondents in line with the decision of the Division Bench in LPA (OW) No. 21/2004 dated May 31, 2004 in the light of observations made here in above as also in the light of quashing of FIR 29/2003 PS VOJ on October 11, 2003 qua Ashok Kumar as well as Ravish Trehan. On receipt of the report, fresh decision should be taken by the Government. In case of disagreement, it shall briefly spell out the reasons. Needful be done within a period of 3 months”.
It may be mentioned the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) had booked former Chief Secretary in the Farooq Abdullah government Ashok Jaitly, a local industrialist and five others in a corruption case in 2003. The case was related to awarding of Rs 200 crore renovation contract to a private company.
An FIR was also registered against Jaitly for entering into a criminal conspiracy with Ravish Trehan, managing director of Trehan Industries, Ashok Kumar and five others. Jaitly had awarded Trehan a contract for the renovation and operation of the canal power house project in Jammu at a higher cost of power production, thereby causing huge recurring loss to the state exchequer.
The Vigilance sleuths had also conducted multiple raids under the supervision of then Vigilance DIG R S Swain and SSP Yoginder Koul at four premises of Trehan and some others at Jammu and New Delhi.
It was also alleged that just before his retirement, Jaitly had abused his official position and by misrepresenting and concealing facts ensured the handing over of the power house to Trehan Industries.
The project was ordered to be handed over to the party even without entering into any formal contract, agreement or MoU, he said. The decision was taken in a hurry and neither the board of directors of the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) nor the state Cabinet was taken into confidence.
