Yash Paul, manager, storage, whose name figured in the crates scam, had been transferred to Bathinda to look after milling operations in the Malwa belt. However, the present management brought him back to Chandigarh as manager, movement, by creating a special post.

The management also brought back V.K. Mahajan, assistant executive engineer, as in charge of headquarter operations immediately after Pirzada was transferred out. He was recently chargesheeted for releasing excess payment of Rs 41 lakh to chosen contractors. Yet another inquiry report against Mahajan, which had been approved by Pirzada, is gathering dust.

Both the officers, on the other hand, claimed that they were victims of the continuing tussle between the two top-ranking officers, one enjoying the backing of a Union Cabinet minister and the other that of a former Union minister.

Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, additional managing director of the Corporation, when contacted, said the decision of the management was governed by the merit of the officers concerned and nothing else. He said Yash Paul was wrongly posted out since there was no post of manager at Bathinda. Back in Chandigarh, he has been given an "insignificant posting to manage wheat movement", he added.

It is learnt that the six inspection teams sent out in the field to ascertain the quality of crates supplied by the 10 shortlisted contractors have reported that the material supplied was sub-standard. The Corporation had placed a purchase order worth nearly Rs 3 crore for procuring crates to store paddy this kharif season.

Manager, movement, Yash Paul told The Indian Express that if at all the crates were sub-standard, the responsibility lay with the technical officers posted in the field. Moreover, full payments had not been released to the suppliers and recoveries could be made from the remaining payments, he said. He added that former managing director Pirzada had himself ordered in writing that the same should be purchased.

Sources close to V.K. Mahajan, AEE, said he was the senior-most engineer but was being victimised during the tenure of the former managing director, who allegedly wanted to help a junior engineer on deputation from the Punjab Agro Newsprint Limited. They disclosed that his rival wanted to supersede him in the Corporation with the help of his political connections. The chargesheets issued to him were aimed at stalling his promotion, it was alleged.