Numberplates scam: Firm to face Goa FIR
Close on the heels of the Allahabad high court’s Lucknow bench cancelling a contract for high-security registration plates in Uttar Pradesh, that also stopped a multi-crore scam in its tracks, the Goa police crime branch is all set to lodge an FIR against the same firm, Shimnit Utsch.
In the case of Goa, large-scale irregularities were detected in the tender process which also favoured this company. The contract for Shimnit Utsch was later terminated in the wake of a high-level inquiry by a state government-appointed committee.
Goa transport minister Ramakrishna Dhavlikar referred the entire case to the crime branch along with the committee’s findings. It is believed some politicians and bureaucrats changed tender norms and procedures to ensure this company got the Goa contract. The Goa government has also initiated a fresh tendering process, which is likely to be completed by mid-April. Sources said all controversial clauses have been removed in the new tender process.
It has also been revealed that similar contracts to Shimnit Utsch were also cancelled in Rajasthan and Karnataka over allegations of irregularities. In Rajasthan’s case, an inquiry is being conducted by the state anti-corruption bureau.
The CBI will, meanwhile, soon begin investigations into the UP HSRP scam on the Allahabad high court’s directions. The court asked the CBI to complete investigations in six months and report back to the court.
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