Making Circus out of CRIS: Blatant disregard of the rules, Part-II

Plot Thickens: Gamification by Satya Kumar, Winner of Past Gamification of Selection

Entry of Rajesh Abrol – Long Shadow on IREPS

Note: This is a whistle blower account which we confirmed from multiple sources. We welcome counter view of those who are named and assure them of space to give their point of view. Further we request Minister and CRB to investigate the claims made by the whistle blower which have been found true by several serving railway officers!

We are publishing a multipart article on how manipulation of rules continue unabated, defeating the intent and effort of #ModiGovernment in the Ministry of Railways. First part can be seen here: “Making Circus out of CRIS-Selection of Satya Kumar: Part-I”

The most powerful #Service which emerged with late #AKMital is Indian Railway Stores Service (#IRSS). How can any plot thicken without an #IRSS gravy?

In the heart of the Indian Railways’ administrative maze, we have seen a tale of deception and manipulation unfold, centering around #GVLSatyaKumar, the MD of Centre for Railway Information Systems (#CRIS). But that is only part of the story, it will remain incomplete without the disclosure about the wrongdoings of his trusted accomplice, #RajeshAbrol of #IRSS. Their story is reads like a saga of #corruption, #favouritism, and a blatant disregard for the #rules that govern fairness and integrity.

#Ep79: रेलवे के डीप-स्टेट को नहीं भेद पा रही मोदी सरकार!

GVL Satya Kumar’s tenure has been marked by a series of controversial decisions, particularly in the realms of #HumanResources and #Procurement, which we will describe in some detail in the third part of this story. To carry out his dubious activities, he needed allies in key positions—individuals who could help him navigate the system and secure sensitive information. One such ally was Rajesh Abrol.

Abrol Story

#RajeshAbrol had spent seven years on deputation at #CRIS, deeply embedded in the E-Procurement Group, where he gained privileged access to crucial #Tender information. Here it is important to understand the scope of his work. Entire procurement of #IndianRailways is now done on a platform called Indian Railway E-Procurement System (#IREPS) of CRIS. This handles lakhs of tenders and procurement above ₹50,000 crores every year. One need not look at forest of lakhs of tenders. One only needs to look at just a few tenders.

Rules Bent for Abrol

When Abrol’s extended #deputation ended, he was repatriated to the Northern Railway. However, Satya Kumar was not willing to lose his trusted confidant. Using his influence, #SatyaKumar orchestrated an unprecedented move; despite official posting being in #NorthernRailway, orders were issued mandating Abrol to continue working for CRIS, circumventing all norms of #propriety and #government rules & procedures, particularly #DoPT guidelines pertaining to loaning of officers with cadre posts to circumvent deputation restrictions. The arrangement was particularly damning since Mr Abrol as an officer of Northern Railway would be a user of the tendering system of CRIS, while Abrol as an officer of CRIS would have administrator rights to servers containing sensitive information of tenders, a clear conflict of interest situation.

How many tenders have been manipulated as a consequence of this illegal arrangement is anybody’s guess? We will explain very shortly.

Gamification-Next Level

In May 2023, a new chapter began. The #RailwayBoard issued #Vacancy Notice No. 33/2023, seeking applications for the positions of Director/Systems and Director/Infrastructure at CRIS. This notice also specified stringent criteria, including an upper age limit of 55 years for external candidates and 56 years for internal ones. Mr Abrol, born in October 1967, was technically ineligible due to age and the lack of a required cooling-off period following his earlier deputation to CRIS.

Despite these disqualifications, Mr Abrol applied for the post on deputation basis. When these ineligibilities surfaced, Satya Kumar and Abrol conspired to manipulate the system once more.

They indulged in twin manipulations: they revised Abrol’s application from #deputation to #absorption, and also attempted to present him as an “internal” candidate—an interpretation stretched beyond logical limits. Real internal candidates for an organisation like CRIS, as per extant rules and norms, could only be either permanent recruits of CRIS or those absorbed from other organisations. Mr #Abrol fit neither category.

The selection process became a chaotic affair, marred by inconsistencies and rule violations. Yet, through a combination of political influence and illicit means, Satya Kumar and Abrol managed to sway the outcome. In a hurried and questionable decision made just days before the retirement of the then #CRB & #CEO, Abrol was appointed #Director/Systems at #CRIS (on deputation). The feather in the cap was that the selection was finalised without conducting the customary interviews, which have invariably been conducted in the previous selections to the positions of #Directors in CRIS.

So was this a thank you? Please Read Again This Article – Nov 27, 2024: “Worst that leaders can do is unethical & immoral conduct”

This appointment, riddled with irregularities, epitomised the deep rot in the system. The blatant disregard for established rules and the manipulation of the selection process highlighted the lengths to which Satya Kumar and Abrol went to secure power.

Today, Rajesh Abrol holds the post of Director/Systems at CRIS, a position many argue, and as we have also seen, he obtained through illegitimate means. He is ineligible to hold the post, primarily on the ground of being age barred on the date of application, and there was no clause conferring grounds for relaxation in any criteria in the vacancy circular. The circumstances surrounding his appointment call for an immediate and thorough investigation by the external agencies. Only then can the integrity of the institution be restored, and justice served for those who abide by the rules.

…Part-III Follows

#Ep81: क्या है #GMinspection में फेमिली को ले जाने का औचित्य?