Pune: FIR Registered Against Cognizant, L&T, and Others in Rs 4.5 Crore Bribe for Environmental Clearance for Office Building in Hinjawadi IT Park
Reported by Mubarak Ansari & Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 8th May 2024: An FIR has been registered today against several high-profile individuals, including a former unnamed officer of Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), as well as unidentified government officials and private individuals. The complaint alleges corrupt practices in obtaining environmental clearance for a Hinjawadi campus of Cognizant.
Former police officer-turned-environment activist Prit Pal Singh (73), hailing from New Delhi, lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune on March 15, 2024. Singh urged the agency to probe allegations against the IT giant, its contractor, and other involved parties.
However, encountering silence from the ACB, Singh escalated the matter to the sessions court. Subsequently, on April 19, the court intervened. Despite this, with no response forthcoming, Singh filed another application for contempt of court. Consequently, the court summoned ACB officials to appear before the court on May 7.
Upon reviewing the application, the Special Court and Sessions Judge, Pune, directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to register a case under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and conduct an investigation for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Consequently, a case has been registered at Bundagarden Police Station based on the complainant’s allegations, Superintendent of Police (ACB, Pune range) Amol Tambe stated in a press release.
According to the FIR, the accused individuals include Srimanikandan Ramamurthy, then Deputy Director at Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd, and officers from Larsen & Toubro, among others. It is reported that approximately 7,70,000 US Dollars (equivalent to around Rs. 4 crore 50 lakhs in Indian currency) exchanged hands in the alleged bribery scheme.
Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation America, initiated a commercial building project in Hinjawadi, Pune, in 2012. The construction contract for this project was awarded to Larsen & Toubro. Ramamurthy, representing Cognizant India, was purportedly responsible for overseeing the project.
The complaint alleges that Ramamurthy, in collusion with officials from L&T and local government authorities, obtained environmental clearance for the construction through illicit means. It is claimed that bribes were paid to unidentified government officials to facilitate the approval process.
The investigation into the matter is being led by DySP Sudam Pachorkar of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Pune, under the guidance of SP Amol Tambe.
