Five days after dna exposed an e-tendering scam in the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, the civic body has ordered a probe into the malpractice and scrapped several tenders worth crores for various works in Vasai.
Five days after dna exposed an e-tendering scam in the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, the civic body has ordered a probe into the malpractice and scrapped several tenders worth crores for various works in Vasai.
A sting operation conducted by this correspondent had showed that some members of the ruling Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) had held a meeting with over 100 contractors in VVMC's D-ward office in the evening of March 20, after office hours, to award 46 civic contracts to people of their choice.
"The meeting was completely illegal. When we enquired with the staff about the CCTV footage of the meeting room, we learnt that it was missing. We are probing into the incident," said Ravindra Borse, in-charge asst commissioner for D ward office.
Govind Rathod, civic chief (temporary) admitted that there was something wrong in the way the between BVA members and contractors was held in the ward office, that too after office hours. "Such incidents will not be tolerated and we have planned to cancel the whole procedure and call for fresh tenders. We'll also ensure that such lapses are not repeated."
Rathod added that a high-level probe had been ordered. "If necessary, we will file a police complaint."
How the process was rigged
In its report of March 20, dna had detailed how a few BVG members had connived with civic officials to rig the whole system. It was decided at the meeting who would bid for which contract. Since the e-tendering process requires a minimum of three bids, for every pre-selected contractor, two dummy candidates would submit their papers. However, the dummies were to prepare their documents and quote prices in such a manner that the bids would be rejected, thus benefitting the intended candidate.
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