The Maharashtra State Police Housing Corporation (MSPHC) has refuted allegations by additional DG R.K. Sahay, who had accused the company and DGP P.N. Dixit, the managing director, of favouring a construction firm for all projects. Officials said they followed directives stipulated by Government Resolutions (GR) and the decision taken by the company’s board. Mr Sahay, who suspectedly immolated himself on Saturday night, is currently in a critical condition.
According to allegations made by Mr Sahay, who had been posted with the MSPHC around a month ago, BG Shirke Constructions had been benefiting by all police mass housing projects being undertaken by MSPHC at Ghatkopar, Worli and Santa Cruz. While it is true that all the contracts were awarded to the firm, officials said the decision was in keeping with a 1984 GR that directed state government companies involved in mass housing to employ “pre-fabricated structure” technology for building and therefore, award the contract to BG Shirke — which specialises in the technology.
“All decisions of awarding contracts are taken by our board of directors and not one man, as Sahay is alleging. The accountant general of the state government also did not take any objection to the company being given contracts and gave a ‘nil’ remark in his audit and inspection report on August 22 this year,” said an official from MSPHC. DGP Dixit called the allegations untrue and said there are several layers of scrutiny during awarding of tenders. “Such a system cannot allow a single officer like me to fraudulently award contracts,” added Mr Dixit.
Meanwhile, home minister R.R. Patil denied rumours of a suicide note being found at the residence of the top IPS officer
An officer, who formerly worked with Mr Sahay, said the latter was prone to insubordination. “He is driven by the need to expose corrupt practices of his superiors. At MSPHC, he initially saw everything as an irregularity since he had not understood the system of functioning there,” said the officer.