BJP donor firm named in Rs 400 crore SAIL Steel scam; CBI acts on Lokpal’s order
New Delhi: A company that donated Rs 30 crore to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) via electoral bonds is at the center of a major scam involving the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). According to a detailed investigation by The Wire, APCO Infratech Pvt Ltd has been named in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR filed in October 2024, based on findings by the Lokpal and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The scam involves the illegal procurement and resale of subsidized steel worth over Rs 400 crore.
The CBI FIR alleges that APCO Infratech issued a fraudulent work experience certificate to Venkatesh Infra Projects Pvt Ltd (VIPPL), a shell company incorporated just a week before it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SAIL in October 2020. This certificate falsely claimed that VIPPL had participated in 11 large infrastructure projects as a subcontractor under APCO – a claim later found to be fabricated.
The Wire’s Hindi report by journalist Ankit Raj, translated by Naushin Rehman, provides documentary evidence from the FIR, Lokpal's directions, and CVC findings, showing that VIPPL used this false credential to procure steel from SAIL at highly subsidized rates under the “Project MoU Scheme,” and then sold it in the open market for profit.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) later confirmed to the CVC that VIPPL had no role in the projects listed. Despite this, SAIL officials approved the MoU without verifying the authenticity of the documents, enabling VIPPL to purchase over 1.1 million tonnes of steel meant for legitimate infrastructure projects.
Interestingly, between 2020 and 2023, APCO purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 30 crore – all of which were encashed by the BJP. During this same period, APCO was also awarded several infrastructure contracts by government agencies.
The whistleblower in the case, Rajiv Bhatia, a former SAIL marketing officer, raised internal alarms and eventually approached the Prime Minister’s Office. He was suspended in 2022 and later prematurely retired, even as other officials suspended in connection with the scam were reinstated after the 2024 General Elections.
The Lokpal in its January 2024 order observed: “There is prima facie material on record to indicate lack of due diligence on the part of the concerned officers of SAIL. Possible connivance of some officials with M/s VIPPL cannot be ruled out.”
SAIL has denied that any financial loss occurred and maintained that VIPPL was a legitimate dealer. However, the CVC and Lokpal reports sharply contradict this claim, pointing to coordinated fraud involving forged documentation and insider cooperation.
The CBI has begun further investigations into other companies and officials allegedly involved in similar fraudulent MoUs with SAIL.
This story is based on an original investigative report published in Hindi by The Wire, reported by Ankit Raj and translated by Naushin Rehman.
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Woman, 2 sons found dead in Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): Three members of a family were found dead inside their home in southeast Delhi's Kalkaji on Friday, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, officials said.
Police said the incident came to light around 2.47 pm when a police team reached the premises to execute a court order related to possession of the property. When repeated knocks went unanswered, the staff used a duplicate key to open the door.
Inside, officers found Anuradha Kapoor (52) and her sons, Ashish Kapoor (32) and Chaitanya Kapoor (27), hanging from the ceiling, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said in a statement. All three were declared dead.
A handwritten note was recovered from the room, suggesting the family had been struggling with depression.
"The handwritten note indicates emotional distress faced by the family due to which the family may have taken the extreme step," the officer said.
The bodies have been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) mortuary for post-mortem and other legal formalities under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police said.
Residents of the neighbourhood said they were shocked to learn about the deaths, adding that the family kept largely to themselves.
Pankaj Kashyap, a resident of Girinagar, said he learnt about the deaths while leaving for work. "I live and work here and was leaving for work when I saw many people standing outside and talking. That is how I got to know that three people had committed suicide. I also saw several police vehicles outside, but I do not know much beyond that," he said.
Baldev, another neighbour, said the family had been living in the newly constructed house for around two years. "We only knew that a mother and her two children lived there. They had moved into the newly built house around two years ago. We did not interact much with them. Today we heard that all three have committed suicide, and whatever we know is based on what people here are saying," he said.
Another neighbour, Ramesh Kumar, claimed the family had earlier attempted suicide.
"About fifteen to twenty days ago, the two sons in the family had attempted suicide and police and ambulances had come. That was when I first got to know who they were. I do not recognise them by face, but we saw the ambulances and police take the two sons that day. Today again we saw ambulances and police arriving, so everyone came out to see what had happened. I do not know how long they had been living here, but this is all we know," he said.
Police said they are examining the family's financial condition, social circumstances, and other factors that may have contributed to the incident. Further investigation is underway.
