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A source close to the investigation said: 鈥淐ompanies have been accused of rigging specific contracts but in some instances the contractors have never heard of the contracts 鈥� it was a case of mistaken identity.

鈥淭he OFT鈥檚 carelessness in making wrongful accusations shows the gung-ho, scattergun approach it has to this inquiry and others. It鈥檚 incompetent.鈥�

The mistakes that have come to light relate to accusations made before the OFT published its statement of objection against 112 companies last month.

An OFT spokesperson said: 鈥淲e are not commenting on individual firms, individual contracts or individual allegations.鈥�

In February a High Court judge criticised the OFT for engaging in 鈥減ublic relations exercises鈥� and 鈥渟ensationalist publicity鈥� when pursuing investigations into supermarket chain Wm Morrison. That defamation case ended last month with the OFT paying 拢100,000 and Morrison鈥檚 costs.

John Fingleton, the OFT鈥檚 chief executive for the past two and a half years, has been criticised for pursuing an aggressive and populist agenda.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the OFT has dropped three of the six allegations it made against North Midland Construction.

The contractor made in a stock exchange trading statement saying: 鈥淭he company has been helping the OFT with its enquiries and will be defending the allegations made against it.

鈥淥f the six initial allegations, three have been dropped and three remain, two applicable to North Midland 好色先生TV Ltd and one to the civil engineering arm.鈥�