Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has uncovered alleged irregularities in the purchase of computers worth nearly Rs 10.99 crore through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), with its probe pointing to possible collusion among companies that participated in the tender.
The agency has registered an FIR against four people under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and recommended action, including blacklisting of the companies linked to the case.
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FOUR COMPANIES, COMMON DETAILS
EOW Director General Upendra Jain said the investigation found several similarities among the four firms that took part in the tender. Their mobile numbers, email IDs and addresses were found to overlap, while investigators also found the use of the same GST account.
The companies were also found to be linked to the same individual. Investigators are examining whether separate firms were used to create an appearance of competition during the procurement process.
The bidders had submitted authorisation letters from computer manufacturers to establish their eligibility for the tender. One such document, submitted in the name of a multinational computer manufacturer, has also come under scrutiny over questions about its authenticity.
JULY INSTALLATION, SEPTEMBER ‘NEW’ EQUIPMENT
The EOW also found evidence suggesting that some equipment already installed at government premises was subsequently presented as new under the tender.
In one instance, computers installed on July 22, 2024, were shown as new equipment in a tender dated September 23, 2024 — a gap of around two months.
Investigators are examining how equipment that had already been installed was accepted as new under the procurement.
SPECIFICATIONS UNDER SCRUTINY
The probe also found discrepancies between the technical specifications prescribed in the tender and those of some of the computers supplied.
Certain machines were found to have locally purchased SSDs and RAM installed, which did not correspond to the specifications laid down in the tender.
The findings have raised questions over whether the equipment supplied met the technical requirements specified in the procurement.
UPS PRICING RAISES QUESTIONS
The EOW has also flagged discrepancies in the purchase of UPS units.
A UPS with a printed price of Rs 6,086 was purchased for Rs 11,247, while its price on GeM was around Rs 3,754, according to the investigation.
The agency also received information from a manufacturer that the UPS model specified in the tender was not the one supplied.
FIR AGAINST FOUR
Based on its findings, the EOW has registered an FIR against four people under relevant BNS provisions and recommended action against the companies involved, including blacklisting.
The probe will now establish the extent of the links between the four firms, how the tender was conducted and how equipment that allegedly did not meet the tender’s requirements was cleared for the Rs 10.99 crore procurement.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
