New Delhi, Jul 30 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out searches at several locations in Maharashtra's Mumbai and Pune after it registered a case against a former scientist and ex-officials of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

The CBI has named then scientist Gurfan Beig, then senior technical officer IITM staff Vipin Mali, Anil Chandrakant, Managing Director of Mumbai-based Video Wall India Pvt Ltd, Director of the company Manisha Anil Girkar and other unknown public servants under several sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act on June 30 this year on allegations of causing loss to IITM.

The CBI initiated a preliminary enquiry in the matter in December last year and then converted the case into a regular FIR in June.

In its FIR, the CBI alleged that during the period, 2011-2018, the then public servants entered into conspiracy with others including Managing Director and Director of said Mumbai-based private company and awarded the contract for the supply, commissioning and maintenance of Digital Display System of SAFAR-PUNE, including supply of 12 Outdoor True Colour LED Display Boards to Mumbai-based private company in violation of the prescribed purchase procedure/rules and by way of disqualifying other bidders on flimsy grounds.

It was also alleged that the accused caused undue favour to the said private supplier by accepting substandard and below specifications and cheap digital display boards at exorbitant rates for SAFAR Project, Pune and thereby caused huge loss to IITM.

Searches were conducted at the residential and official premises of the accused at Pune and Mumbai which led to recovery of incriminating documents and articles.