Mumbai: After alleging the Chief Minister’s office and an IAS official for misusing the position to award a contract to Vidharba Infotech for towing vehicles in Mumbai city, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday charged an IPS official who gave a “fit” certificate for the company without experience in the work.
Sanjay Nirupam produced three documents indicating that Vidharba Infotech had given false information in the bidding document by claiming to have experience in towing vehicles. A document sent to the Company Affairs Department by Vidarbha Infotech states a decision by an extraordinary general body meeting of the company that introduced “towing vehicles” in its objectives two months after it had been awarded the contract.
Sanjay Nirupam asked “Isn’t it a clear manipulation of the tendering process? Mumbaikars’ money is going to a company that does not even have the expertise to tax them. The chief minister’s office was in a hurry to give a clean chit to IAS officer Pravin Darade. Now there is another one from Nagpur, Milind Bhrambe who is caught in the entire towing scam.”
As per the eligibility criteria of the towing tendering contract, it said very clearly that any company applying for this contract or bidding for this contract should have at least five years of experience. As per another document, the work order that was assigned by the Joint police commissioner, Milind Bharambe on 27th may 2016 clearly said that Vidharba Infotech “fits the eligibility criteria”.
However, Mr Bharambe said that, “The contract was awarded strictly in accordance with law and procedure. The allegations against me are baseless.”
