THE Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against the then Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-II(EPFC-II), Employees Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO), Sub-Regional Office, Vashi (Maharashtra), now posted at Thane, EPFO and the Enforcement Officer of EPFO, Vashi and others for causing loss of Rs.24.91 crores to Government.
The accused public servants abused their official position and entered into criminal conspiracy with the private persons, the Directors & Consultant of a Chembur (Mumbai) based firm along with some unknown officials of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and EPFO to cheat the EPFO by passing a favourable order causing wrongful gain to private firm to the tune of Rs.24.91 crores and corresponding wrongful loss to the EPFO.
The brief fact of the case is that the then RPFC-II passed 7-A assessment order on 20.3.2009 determining dues of Rs.6,72,455/- for the period October, 2003 to January, 2009 without examining the dues of employees engaged in the projects of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and CIDCO.
Information revealed that the Enforcement Officer of EPFO without verifying the proper facts accepted the report submitted by the private firm whereas the employees of the firm and their contribution towards the EPF deduction was not calculated as per procedure of EPF Act, which along with the damages @ 100% should have come to approximately Rs.43,52,67,618/- for the period from 2004-05 to 2008-09.
Searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of both the public servants and office premises of firm at Chembur (Mumbai). Incriminating documents recovered during searches are being scrutinized for further investigation.
