Pace kickback case expected to go to grand jury

A Pace administrator accused by the FBI of taking more than $280,000 in kickbacks waived a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

Typically, that means the case will proceed to a grand jury, which will decide whether an indictment is in order.

Federal prosecutors say Rajinder Sachdeva, 51, an IT expert from Schaumburg, abused his position as a department manager of applications at Pace by conning illegal payments from bus agency contractors and consultants.

Sachdeva's attorney said his client's "good name" will be restored when the case is resolved.

His job included supervising IT contractors handling human resources, accounting and purchasing systems. The federal complaint involves three Pace IT consultants: Synchronous Solutions, Senryo Technologies and Bourntec Solutions.

Sachdeva has been suspended without pay.