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Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service"
Ludhiana, May 28
Reacting to the allegations of fraud levelled by the local machine tools manufacturer, Rachpal Singh Gabria on the officials of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India, the EEPC officials, in a written statement issued, categorically denied the allegations and termed them baseless.
Notably, Gabria had alleged that he was not allotted a booth as assured by the EEPC at an exhibition, ‘National Hardware Show’, in the US, due to which he did not get any order. Gabria had also filed a complaint with the city police, in which a probe is still pending.
Meanwhile, the EEPC, in its written reply, states that the version of what Gabria said was untrue and the EEPC was contesting his complaint lodged with the Ludhiana police on merit.
The EEPC officials told Ludhiana Tribune that through the event circular, published by the EEPC India, Gabria Mechanical Tools, Ludhiana, showed their willingness to participate. Gabria was informed well in advance that the participant had to bear all the related expense. It was also informed to all interested participants that the booth would be allotted only after the requisite payments were made in full. Gabria had filled the online application form wherein it was mentioned that a sum of Rs 2,40,000 had to be paid to confirm the booking of the booth.
On request and representation made by Gabria, a letter was issued to Gabria and Navdeep Singh, who was Gabria’s manager. The letter dated April 23, 2018, was never a letter of allotment of booth.
Once the payment was received, a letter dated May 1, 2018, was issued to Gabria Mechanical Tools informing that he was a confirmed participant at the Indian pavilion of the exhibition and had been allotted a two side open 100 sq ft booth bearing number 1226.
The EEPC officials also mentioned that as the booth was allotted to him without any objection from his end, Gabria did not raise any objection during the exhibition to the EEPC representative present there. It appears that Gabria had carried out an impression that the visa application of his accomplice, Navdeep Singh, had been rejected due to interference from our end. Owing to this, he had filed a complaint with the Economic Offence Wing of Ludhiana police.
“Furthermore, Gabria’s allegation that he did not receive booth no 1226 is equally baseless as the name of Gabria Mechanical Tools was clearly displayed on the fascia of his booth throughout the tenure of the exhibition and he had exhibited from the said booth. The EEPC has photographs to establish this fact and even the screenshots taken from the official website of the National Hardware Show 2018 in the section of exhibitors’ list would show that the company Nirvana Hammocks Private Limited was in the adjacent booth number 1225,” the EEPC officials maintained.
The EEPC has already filed its written submissions dated August 24, 2018, in this complaint, along with all documents, which are being relied upon by the EEPC. They have also intimated Ludhiana police of their willingness to cooperate and join the investigation process, as may be required under law, they added.
Allegation
Gabria had alleged that he was not allotted a booth as assured by the EEPC at an exhibition, ‘National Hardware Show’, in the US, due to which he did not get any order. Gabria had also filed a complaint with the city police in which a probe is still pending.
Counter allegation
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