High Court Reserves Judgment in Meinhardt Scam Case

MLA Saryu Roy’s Petition on Alleged Rs 21 Crore Fraud Awaits Verdict

Court questions delay in filing police complaint as hearing concludes.

RANCHI – The Jharkhand High Court has reserved its decision after concluding the hearing of the Meinhardt scam case, a petition filed by East Singhbhum MLA Saryu Roy.

The case pertains to alleged financial irregularities in Ranchi’s sewerage drainage DPR during Raghubar Das’s tenure as Urban Development Minister.

"We’ve presented our case regarding the Rs 21 crore scam in preparing Ranchi’s sewerage drainage DPR," Roy stated after the hearing.

The court questioned why a police complaint or civil court case wasn’t filed when the irregularities were first noticed.

A preliminary enquiry (PE) was registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in December 2020, but no FIR has been filed to date.

Roy accused the Meinhardt agency of a Rs 21 crore scam, initially raising the issue in the Jharkhand Assembly.

The petitioner highlighted the lack of progress in the ACB’s investigation over the past two and a half years.

The case traces back to a 2003 High Court order for developing Ranchi’s sewerage system, followed by consultant selection controversies.

Roy alleged that Raghubar Das, as Urban Development Minister in 2005, changed the consultant selection, leading to Meinhardt’s appointment.

The court’s decision is eagerly awaited, given the case’s implications for Jharkhand’s political landscape and urban development projects.