In a recent development, a government contractor has leveled serious allegations against a junior engineer (JE) of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The complaint, submitted to the Governor of Punjab and the Chandigarh administration, accuses the JE of threatening to cancel the contractor’s license and withholding payments when the contractor’s sons demanded unpaid dues for work completed at the JE’s new house in Mohali.
Shiv Chandra Singh, a contractor with Shiv and Sons Construction, alleges that after completing construction work on a valuable property owned by JE Ritesh Kumar’s family in Mohali, his sons sought the outstanding payment. In response, the JE allegedly not only refused to pay but also threatened to revoke the contractor’s license and put a hold on his bills.Singh, a government contractor with a certificate from the state governor for his work, has approached the authorities seeking an investigation into the JE’s property and payment dispute. Singh claims that the JE, through intimidation and coercion, has been avoiding settling the dues and has subjected him to mental harassment.
According to Singh’s statement, the JE Ritesh Kumar approached Shiv and Sons Construction in 2022 for renovation work on his Mohali residence. After the completion of the project, when Singh’s sons requested the pending payment according to their agreement (Agreement No. 2169179.84 for Rs 2,169,179.84), the JE allegedly refused to pay and started pressuring Singh.
Allegedly, threats were made not only to cancel the contractor’s license but also to hamper his position within the CPWD. The complaint further states that the JE even threatened to deny access to Singh’s employees who went to retrieve their belongings from the contractor’s Mohali residence. Additionally, when Singh sent bills related to the dispute via WhatsApp, the JE allegedly threatened legal action in the consumer court.
The matter is pending further investigation, and Singh hopes that justice will be served through the legal process.
