Sources said after preliminary investigation, sleuths have recommended registration of an FIR. So far, investigation into bitumen supply to Poanta sub-division has revealed a fraud for 55 bitumen drums worth about Rs 2.15 lakh. It has been found that the bitumen supply was shown as received in the stock registers, but there was no proof of their physical presence. The number of bitumen drums might turn out to be a lot more as investigations proceed.

SP, Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Vigilance, Hardesh Bisht confirmed that preliminary investigation for Poanta was almost complete and registration of an FIR was imminent.

The Vigilance has already registered two cases against PWD officials and Chandigarh-based transport company M.K. Enterprises for supply to Una and Badsar PWD sub-divisions. Investigation from officials of the PWD is on. In Una, a supply order of about 900 bitumen drums worth Rs 35 lakh went missing on the way to their destination.

The scam pertains to 22 divisions of PWD and involves supply of thousands of litres of bitumen from Panipat refineries that was inordinately delayed and in some cases went missing. The stocks with the PWD showed the drums as received.

Though the condition on the tender called for transporting all supplies within five days, after which a fine of Rs 10 per day was to be imposed on the transporters, the nodal agency, Him Agro Industries, did not take any action for the delay, even as in many cases the delay is of over six months.

Meanwhile, the five transporter companies who were fined nearly