India / Bullet train project chairman sacked batchmate complains about giving contract to son company

New Delhi : The central government took a sudden decision today. sacked Satish Agnihotri, the head of his ambitious bullet train project. Agnihotri, who was serving as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National High Speed ​​Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), has been terminated with immediate effect on charges of corruption, officials said.

An order dated July 7, 2022 stated that Rajendra Prasad, Indian Railway Service Engineer (IRSE), serving as Director (Projects) in NHSRCL for a period of three months, has been given the responsibility of the post of Managing Director of NHSRCL. . This order shall come into force from the date of joining or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

An NHSRCL spokesperson did not comment on the matter. When asked about the allegations against Agnihotri, railway ministry officials declined to comment. Agnihotri is a 1982 batch IRSE officer and was appointed as the CMD of NHSRCL in July last year.

Railway officials said that Agnihotri has been suspended for a case that happened in 2011. A ministry official said, “The said officer has been dismissed after the Lokayukta received several complaints. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now investigating this matter.

An official privy to the matter, requesting anonymity, said, "The complainant is a batchmate of Agnihotri. He has alleged that when Agnihotri was in Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, he had given contract to the company in which his son worked. The complainant also alleged that after retirement Agnihotri joined a private company before the stipulated period. As per the rules, a government official cannot join a private firm before one year," said a ministry official. Another official, however, said that Agnihotri has denied the allegations against him.