Tender Manipulation & Kickbacks: IAS Officer Udit Prakash Rai Under ED Lens for Alleged ₹5 Crore Money Laundering
Enforcement Directorate (ED) reveals that nearly ₹5 crore in kickbacks were allegedly routed to IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai and his mother-in-law through a network of firms during his tenure at Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
A money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate has uncovered serious allegations against senior IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai, who served as Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board. The ED alleges that Rai and his mother-in-law received kickbacks totaling approximately ₹5 crore from six private firms, allegedly in exchange for awarding favorable tenders during his time in office.
Case Origin: ACB’s Corruption Charges Prompt ED Inquiry
The investigation stems from a corruption case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government in May 2023. The ACB had named six private firms and several officials for irregularities in DJB’s tender process. The firms under scrutiny include:
M/s Eurotech Environmental Pvt. Ltd
M/s Ayyapa Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd
M/s Khilari Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd
M/s GSJ Envo Limited
M/s Shubhash Infraengineers Pvt. Ltd
M/s Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd
Following the ACB’s findings, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on May 13, 2024, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Layered Transactions and Favoritism Exposed
The ED’s investigation has revealed a complex web of financial transactions used to transfer illicit funds to Rai and his relatives.
A key focus of the probe is M/s Eurotech Environmental Pvt. Ltd, which reportedly received preferential treatment in the tendering process. The ED found that:
₹1.52 crore was transferred to Rai and his mother-in-law via AN Enterprises, a firm owned by Nagendra Yadav, linked to Eurotech and its affiliates.
Additional transactions involving the Director of Ayyappa Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd, Satish Varma, and Eurotech, amounted to a total of ₹4.82 crore, including the ₹1.52 crore alleged to be commission payments to Rai’s family.
Current Status: Prosecution Sanctions Awaited
The ED has shared its findings with the ACB, highlighting what it calls a “maze of complex transactions” and recommending prosecution under relevant legal provisions.
ACB officials confirmed the continuation of the investigation and stated that prosecution sanctions under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act have been sought in certain cases, while others are pending approval.
Efforts to reach IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
