Mumbai: Congress’ Mumbai president Sanjay Nirupam on Friday levelled serious allegations against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying that a firm, Vidarbha Infotech, is benefiting because of its nexus with the chief minister and his secretary Praveen Darade. Vidarbha Infotech was awarded the contract for towing in Mumbai. After levelling the allegations, Mr Nirupam demanded cancellation of the company’s contract.
Speaking about the recent increase in towing incidents in the city, Mr Nirupam said it raised the question, why the contract was awarded to the Vidarbha Infotech, which has no expertise in towing.
Mr Nirupam claimed, “Nine lakh four wheelers drivers and 17 lakh bikers in the city are being harassed by traffic police and made to pay high towing fine, and a bulk of that money is going to Vidarbha Infotech.”
Mr Nirupam also claimed that Vidarbha Infotech has links to the CM’s secretary Pravin Darade. “It cannot be a mere coincidence that ever since Devendra Fadnavis became the chief minister, Vidarbha Infotech has been awarded one contract after the another, whether they have the expertise or not. In this entire nexus, it is Pravin Darade, who is close to the CM, is instrumental in using his influence and allocating projects out of turn to Vidarbha Infotech,” said Mr Nirupam.
Mr Nirupam said, “Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd, the agency hired to tow cars is a software firm and has no expertise in towing. It was announced that the tender was open only for the firms whose turnover exceeded '50 crore, putting 1,000 to 1,200 youngsters from smaller agencies which are regularly hired otherwise, out of jobs.” He also claimed, “Vidarbha Infotech’s control room is set up on a 1,000 sq ft land which has been allotted to them free of cost. Vidarbha Infotech Pvt. Ltd seems to be a strategic move by the CM, and he must justify the reason behind hiring the firm in the first place.”
