The contract amount for the purchase of 80 suits from Techno Trade Impex India Pvt Limited was made a year earlier even though the delivery of the goods was made in 2010.
An internal probe conducted by the Maharashtra police into alleged irregularities in purchase of the bomb suits for Rs6 crore from a private firm has found that the norms were violated in the process, police sources said.
The contract amount for the purchase of 80 suits from Techno Trade Impex India Pvt Limited was made a year earlier even though the delivery of the goods was made in 2010. The state government had rejected the suits for being of "inferior quality".
"We completed the probe and sent the report to Maharashtra police headquarters. The DGP will go through the report and forward it to the state government," a senior ACB officer said.
A senior police official, a government official and the importer of the suits, Bimal Agarwal, have come under the scanner for their alleged act of commission, they said.
"Some wrongdoings have surfaced in the payment making process. A senior police official, a government official and Agarwal have come under scanner," the official added.
"It was very shocking that the entire contract amount was paid before the goods were delivered. Many reasons were cited, including some bank formalities, for the entire advance payment but there were a number of violations of the norms in the payment making," the official said.
DGP K Subramaniam said he received the ACB report but refused to divulge its contents. "Certain norms were violated when it came to payment for the suits," he confirmed.
Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, Agarwal said, "I followed all the procedures and then took the payment. Let us see how the police prove whatever allegations they are making against me."
The state police in January 2009 floated the tender for purchase of the ensemble post the 26/11 terror attacks as most of the suits used by various bomb detection and disposal squads (BDDS) units were outdated.
The bid was won by Techno Trade Impex India Pvt Limited and an order for 80 suits was placed. In June 2009, the government paid about Rs6 crore to the firm.
However, when the suits were supplied in 2010, the government rejected them for not in conformity with quality standards.
Agarwal then moved the Bombay High Court in March, 2010 challenging the state government's decision.
Former principal secretary (home) PK Jain, in an affidavit filed before the court, had claimed that Techno Trade acquired 36 bomb suits from South Africa and the remaining from China.
It was alleged that the protective gear imported from China was cheaper and of a low quality as compared to those imported from South Africa. The matter is still pending in the court.
However, when senior police officials from the DGP's office were unable to explain the reasons for advance payment of entire amount for the purchase of suits, the government had ordered an internal probe.
The 26/11 terror attack had exposed chinks in the armour of Mumbai police in context of handling urban terrorism involving sophisticated arms and ammunition.
Maharashtra government as part of the Modernisation Plan for its police force decided to provide better arms, equipment and protective gear such as better quality bomb suits and bulletproof jackets for the personnel.
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