Reported by Laxman Sharma
Digboi: The controversy surrounding nearly Rs 20 lakh in unpaid dues allegedly owed to local suppliers by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Assam Oil Division (AOD), has deepened, with a senior official disclosing that former canteen in-charge Dipak Bhuyar had been removed from his responsibilities months earlier following allegations of demanding commissions from vendors.
The disclosure, made to Northeast Now on condition of anonymity, adds a fresh dimension to the dispute involving the AOD canteen operated by Mumbai-based contractor M/S Vidya Caterers.
According to the official, Bhuyar was relieved of his responsibilities after allegations surfaced that he had demanded commissions from local suppliers. An internal inquiry was subsequently conducted, following which the canteen administration was handed over to Bhaskar Das, who currently oversees the facility.
What initially appeared to be a payment dispute has now snowballed into a wider controversy involving allegations of commission demands, threats, abusive language and questionable financial practices linked to the canteen’s outsourced operations.
Several local suppliers, including Shanti Traders, Organic Point, Gautam Enterprise and Samsuddin Mutton Shop have alleged that payments amounting to nearly Rs 20 lakh have remained pending for close to a year despite supplies being received and consumed by the canteen.
Among the claimants, Simanta Deori alleged that Rs 4 lakh remains outstanding for vegetable supplies, while Rocky Agarwal claimed around Rs 8 lakh is due for grocery items. Samsuddin Ali said Rs 21,300 is pending for meat supplies, while Kanhaiya Prasad Jaiswal of Gautam Enterprise alleged that Rs 6,54,509 remains unpaid for supplying packaged drinking water to various AOD units, including the canteen.
Jaiswal further alleged that when he repeatedly sought payment, Bhuyar threatened him with “dire consequences”, claimed to have influential connections in New Delhi and used abusive language involving his family members. He said the conversations had been recorded and preserved.
The vendors also alleged that some canteen staff members routinely demanded commissions for facilitating supplies and processing payments. According to them, such payments were made periodically in the hope that their dues would be cleared without delay.
Adding to the allegations, this journalist has accessed four audio recordings which, according to the complainants, allegedly capture Bhuyar using threatening and abusive language. While the recordings have not been independently authenticated, their contents, if verified, could raise serious concerns about the functioning of the canteen system.
The controversy has also raised questions over the handling of procurement and payments by the contractor and management.
According to an AOD official, Vidya Caterers had informed the management through email that the contractual quota of 7,000 Bisleri water jars of 20 litres each had been exhausted within a year and that any additional supply would be financially unviable. The contractor had reportedly advised the management not to continue availing services from sub-vendors on its behalf.
Despite this communication, the canteen allegedly continued to receive water and other supplies from local vendors without informing them that the principal contractor had expressed its inability to bear further financial liability.
Suppliers have further alleged that some partial payments were made in cash rather than through banking channels, raising concerns over transparency and audit trails.
When contacted, Bhuyar reportedly acknowledged that the supplies had been received and said J.C. Das, General Manager of Assam Oil Division, was fully aware of the matter and was the competent authority to pursue Vidya Caterers for release of the pending dues.
The present canteen in-charge told Northeast Now that he was unaware of the dispute and said several corrective measures had been introduced since he assumed charge.
Sources said the AOD management convened a meeting on Monday to deliberate on the allegations and examine the facts emerging from the complaints and supporting materials submitted by vendors. Sources said the management is preparing a formal response.
For the affected suppliers, however, the issue remains straightforward — goods were delivered, accepted and consumed, but payments remain pending.
The vendors said they now expect the IOCL-AOD management to intervene and resolve the deadlock.