The sleuths of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Thursday commenced the probe based on the findings of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on alleged irregularities in tendering process through e-tendering and procurement mode by Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) in Chhattisgarh.
The team reached the CHiPS office and sought all files and other documents related to the e-tendering process.
Confirming information on arrival of EOW team, Sanjeev Sharma, Public Relations Officer (PRO), CHiPS stated that the EOW team had arrived and sought the original files related to the e-tendering process which was provided to them.
Notably, on January 10 this year, Chief Accountant General (CAG) (Audit) Raipur, Bijay Kumar Mohanty, while releasing the CAG report had pointed out the as part of collusive bidding, detailed investigation from Vigilance angle has been recommended against the use of 74 computers by at least one Government official of 17 departments of the State Government with one or more bidders in respect of 1921 tenders valued at Rs 4601 crores; as the inbuilt business intelligence module was blocked and bypassed in e-procurement.
“The vendors also possessed common e-mail IDs and 79 vendors/bidders had two PANs. The e-procurement system was aimed at vendor registration, tendering, award of work for all tenders above Rs 20 lakh which was lowered to Rs 10 lakh in May 2016. CHiPS was the nodal agency for the project,” he said.
Mohanty said: “48 Public Works Department divisions and 18 Water Resources Department divisions between May 2016 and June 2017 invited 658 tenders worth Rs 108.35 crore manually each valued between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh despite directives of e-procurement.”
“Similarly, 133 tenders valued at Rs 225.15 crore had multiple bidders applying for the same tender and mentioned same partner’s e-mail ID for obtaining vendor ID.
In five tenders valued Rs 15.44 crore, Contractor was not eligible. In other case in 11 tenders valued at Rs 23.77 crore, Contractor was favoured surpassing his bid capacity,” he had pointed out.
The Department has claimed that it has blocked multiple bidders, common e-mail ID, common mobile numbers and more than one PAN, Mohanty had stated.